The winners in the Cycling Ireland monthly awards for April have been announced. The recipients are Ben Healy (male rider of the month), Mia Griffin (female rider of the month) and Nicola McKiverigan (volunteer of the month).
The
winner of club of the month is Banbridge Cycling Club and the winner of leisure event of the month is the Cliffs of Moher Cycling Challenge promoted by Riverside CC Ennistymon.
The
winners were nominated by Cycling Ireland members, with a selection
panel voting to decide the winner’s of each category. The leisure
commission nominate the best leisure event award.
The winner of the female rider of the month is Mia Griffin (TC Racing)
Mia has been chosen for the award due to her win at the Donal Crowley Memorial promoted by Blarney Cycling Club which is part of the Cycling Ireland National Road Series. She took the win from a break away which also included Eve McCrystal and Eileen Burns. She is also part of the Irish team persuit line-up who set a new national record at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Poland earlier in the year.
"I'm delighted to have got this award! I joined Team TC Racing before the start of
the season and they welcomed me with open arms. After the worlds my coach allowed
me to fit in road races that I wanted to do. I just decided I wanted to get in
some road races almost every weekend that I was home so I entered some races and did the Des Hanlon and Blarney".
"The women’s racing was good and aggressive. The Des Hanlon was
hilly of course and a great test of fitness as a first road race of the season.
The Blarney event was 2 weeks later so it was a good chance to improve. Blarney was brilliant, it was an orange weather alert day so we were blown all over the place and rained on of course".
"I've just finished an altitude block in France in preparation for the European games in Minsk. We put down some good miles so hopefully we see the benefit. After that I'll go home and do the Dublin Track Cycling International. I plan on racing track for a bit and maybe getting in a race block in Belgium on the road afterwards. I hope to be home for more national series racing too!".
The male rider of the month is Ben Healy (Team Wiggins)
Ben has been selected for the April award based on his overall win at the 2019 Kerry Group Rás Mumhan. As part of a five man Irish team he prevailed in the event which was held over Easter weekend in Co. Kerry and attracted 152 entries. He has also taken other strong results during the year most notably 11th place at the Gent Wevelgem classic in Belgium on his U23 debut for the Irish team.
Banbridge CC have been selected for the April award due to their work promoting events along with supporting participation programmes such as "Women on Wheels" which has been developed by Cycling Ulster. The club is celebrating their 75th anniversary this year and have developed many top level riders including Mark Downey who this year won a bronze medal at UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
"Banbridge Cycling Club are delighted to receive the Cycling Ireland club of the month award for April. We've had the privilege to receive such awards in recent years from Cycling Ireland & Cycling UIster, but to receive recognition on our 75th anniversary year for the clubs achievements is a real cherry on top".
"The club promotes events throughout the year and across multiple disciplines, both on and off the bike. We are delighted to team up with BGN Sports Management to support another hugely successful Victus Tour of Ulster which was hosted in our home town and demonstrated the support that the town and community have for cycling in the area. We've also teamed up with other local cycling clubs to form a weekly Inter Club Race League which goes from strength to strength and helps bring the clubs together".
"Away from competitive events Banbridge CC are supporting the AXA community bike rides and the Women on Wheels programmes, providing rider leaders for both initiatives".
"All these events could not be run without the help and support of our club members and volunteers and we see this award as recognition for their continued hard work and dedication to the sport".
Nicola has been selected due to her ongoing involvement in coaching and being part of various commissions of Cycling Ireland. She coaches across different disciplines such as track and off road devoting a lot of time to helping others improve.
"Thank you for this wonderful award, I am truly honoured to receive it. Im very lucky to work along side some wonderful people form all cycling disciplines and have worked with some amazing athletes. This is what makes my job so worthwhile.
I coach every Thursday night at Orangefield Track in Belfast. I have been coaching alongside Anthony Mitchell for around 14 years now and have seen some amazing talent come threw the gates.
I have been Manger for all the British MTB Series in the UK (5 rounds) I'm off to Wales this weekend with this squad. The work that the Cycling Ulster off road commission is doing to help develop the riders by giving them this opportunity to compete against not only the best in Britain but the best in the World is amazing.
Other plans for this year will include European and World Track Championships with Cycling Ireland Juniors.I'm on the Ulster Track Commission, Ulster MTB Commission and National Track Commission. As well as all this i work full time in a school and mum to Shenna and Niamh but can't forget about my wonderful husband to holds all together at home to let me do what I love doing helping others."
The leisure event of the month is The Cliffs of Moher Cycling Challenge.
The
event was hosted by Riverside CC Ennistymon for the sixth time this year with the event starting and finishing in the Clare town of Ennistymon. The event had three routes to cater for all levels with 40km, 80km and 125km routes available. Over the years the event has raised almost €20,000 for local charities and received a large amount of positive feedback for the event this year from participants.
**Nominations for the May awards are open here**