END OF YEAR AWARDS 2023

As another complete journey around the sun nears, so does our main cycling season, with the dark winter months ahead it gave us the opportunity to host our Annual awards at Everest restaurant in Yaxley. It gave Yaxley Riders, both new and old the opportunity to socialise and reminisce about the good old days of cycling from the White bench.

As every the awards centre around our core values around best newcomer, most improved rider, most hammered, the unsung hero and the prestigious Rider of the year award. This year’s nominations didn’t disappoint, every rider was nominated were worthy winners in their award category, but we can only have one winner in each.

This year also saw the introduction of two, limited edition awards, Most Unreliable went to Al Phillips, who, so we are told, is prone to mechanicals due to his extreme power output! However it takes a certain rider not able to make it out of the car park at the café to win this award! The second award was Longest Freewheel on the flat, and that goes to Andy Clarke on a massive 1.62 miles, on the flat without pedalling. This distance is still being investigated by the Guinness book of cycling records to see if it worthy of a World Record!

Best Newcomer Award

Since the very start of Yaxley Riders back in 2010 the group has always new riders that join the ranks, some riders disappear after the first year, some stay with us and other just come and go within the group knowing that they will always be welcomed back if they aren’t a regular. This is an important award to the group as, inevitably these are the riders that will join, and hopefully stay with us over the upcoming months and years to continue to make the group what it is. This year’s nominations were no exception, each of the riders nominated are great ambassadors to the group, our nominations this year were Rob Hustwayte, Laurynas Botswana’s (aka Larry), Damián Caci, Dominik Krolik. Whilst it was a closely contested battle, Damián snatched the award by a very short margin. Whilst it has been great to see all of the new riders this year Damián has joined us from relocating from Argentina and having been new to the cycling scene has found a local group that has welcomed him, encouraged him and provided a fantastic community to support his passion for cycling.

Most Hammered Award

This is the category that is always questioned, on what it actually represents… Well it’s for the rider who turns up every week and pushes themselves harder and harder each time, maybe stepping up a group and trying to hang on, but never giving up. Putting the effort in every time and still coming back, smiling and wanting more each week. This is always a hard category for the admin to team to nominate, as so many of our riders give it their all and ride on the very limits and outside of their ability. So this years nominations were Paul Lindley, Shaun Graham, Jason Scholes and Tom West Robinson. This years most hammered rider has put the hours in this year, having ridden their longest single ride of 170 miles, they have also shown their cycling commitment by riding in and out of the Sunday spinner which has also increased their cycling fitness and distance and whilst this rider is a regular on the Sunday spinner they have shown that their progression to the intermediate groups has been more then just hanging on the back, they have shown that their fitness and determination has ensured the replace within that group. This years Most Hammered was awarded to Paul Lindley.

Most Improved Award

With each year we see riders improve, sometimes its small improvement during the individual seasons and other times improvements shown are huge, It is fair to say, with all the nominations this year, these riders have shown huge gains in their riding, stamina and also mental ability around their riding. This year’s nominations were Jamie Holmewood, Daryl Martin, Paul Lindley and Charlotte Deykin, again it was a very closely fought category. Our winner of most improved has shown huge determination in their cycling this year, having started racing this season, has leapt through the racing categories, winning races from the offset, along with competing at both local and regional levels. This combined with mixing both road and cross racing has demonstrated that this riders commitment, determination and mental abilities that has pushed this rider to a thoroughly deserved winner in Charlotte Deykin.

Unsung Hero Award

This year we opened up this category for the community to vote for, this is to acknowledge a riders selflessness in their riding by helping others, keeping a group together, offering advice, dropping off the back, pushing on the front or in the event of a mechanical. They remain positive thought and are generally that YR ambassador that keeps people coming back. Whilst there were a few names that were thrown into the hat there was one name that stood out in peoples response, Dean Musgrave was awarded the Unsung Hero 2023. From pushing at the front of the group, to dropping back to support the tail end, Deans positivity, support and energy to support any of the rides he has ridden on this year has been outstanding. His encouragement, nurturing and empathy has supported all of us at some point and provides that drive for any rider to return the next week.

Rider of the Year

So we come to our final award, The Yaxley Riders, Rider of the year and as always this is voted by the community, and whilst we had several names nominated, there was one name that you decided a worth winner for this category. It was clear from the comments that the voters made that this individuals energy into the group in both his support during rides, organising rides, spearheading the unprecedented charity work and being an all-round, great, ambassador Mark Wheatley was awarded, for the second year running the rider of the year award. It goes without saying the Marks passion and enthusiasm drives this group onwards and upwards in terms of his organisation, passion and commitment.

So a huge congratulations to all of the winners, nominated riders, it is great to be able to recognise the commitment that you all put into the group, week in and week out.

So as we head towards the end of 2023 the Admin team would like to extend a HUGE thank you to all of our riders, it’s you that make the group by turning up each week, supporting the rides that we as an admin team put on and also contributing to the community and other riders, we believe that we have one of the best cycling groups in and around Peterborough with our friendly and positive attitude towards each other, so thank you for your continued support.