Nominations open in search for Scotland’s 2023 ‘Cycling Champions’

Scotland’s four cycling organisations – Cycling Scotland, Scottish Cycling, Cycling UK and Sustrans Scotland – have launched the search for Scotland’s Cycling Champions.

The Cycling Champion of the Year Awards are Scotland’s national cycling awards, and the chance for the public to help celebrate those individuals and organisations that have contributed significantly to supporting cycling at a local or national level in the last year.

Members of the public are being asked to submit nominations across six categories:

• Visionary Champion: an individual whose vision and contribution has made a significant impact and influence on cycling strategy and development at a local, regional or national level – supporting environmental, health and social benefits.
• Community Champion for sport and recreation: an individual or group that has made a significant social impact through the delivering of activities or inspiration that have expanded the reach of sport and leisure cycling opportunities to new and hard-to-reach audiences through the power of sport.
• Community Champion for everyday cycling: an individual or group that has made a significant social impact through the delivering of activities or inspiration that have expanded the reach of everyday cycling opportunities to new and hard-to-reach audiences. The winner could be a campaigner who has championed change to benefit cycling on a local level.
• Young Champion: a young person (aged 24 or below) that has made significant impact on their community through their contribution to cycling policy, programmes or activities.
• Business Champion: a workplace which has sustained or enhanced their business through adoption and promotion of cycling activities.
• Cycle Shop Champion: a cycle retailer in Scotland that is at the heart of a cycling community, selling ‘cycling’ as much as selling bikes and products. The Cycle Shop Champion will demonstrate the value of the cycle retail industry to Scottish communities and our collective aim of making cycling accessible to all and reaching new audiences.

The online nomination process is straightforward and takes only a few minutes to complete, with the panel looking at the quality of individual entries rather than the quantity of nominations received.

In 2022, the Cycling Champion Awards were presented to:

• Ann Berry of Biosphere Bikes in Girvan, for her long-term work to make cycling more inclusive and accessible in Ayrshire.
• Colin Chisholm, for his significant contribution to officiating at cycling events and activities across Scotland and mentoring of other volunteers.
• 1st Step Development Ventures, a community-led charity helping people in West Lothian and Falkirk affected by addiction to gain confidence, skills, and qualifications through bike repairs.
• Amelia Shuttleworth of cycling club Glasgow Riderz, for her encouragement and support for other young people to take up cycling.
• Glasgow-based content studio Cut Media, for its efforts to support its staff to switch to cycling as an everyday transport option.
• Hart’s Cyclery, a cycle shop based in Edinburgh committed to encouraging more people to cycle and actively helping to influence positive change.

Christopher Johnson, Head of Education and Training at Cycling Scotland on behalf of the organising committee said: “It is an exciting time for cycling in Scotland, with record government investment in active travel infrastructure and more people getting on their bikes.

“The annual Cycling Champions awards reflect the significant contribution that individuals and organisations make to ensure that cycling delivers benefits to us all. Previous winners have supported stronger communities and social connections, delivered programmes to reduce transport poverty, and created opportunities to improve health and wellbeing. Along with partners across the four national cycling organisations, we want to celebrate this and look forward to receiving nominations for those who deserve to be recognised for their hard work in 2023.”

Nominations for Cycling Champions can be made here until 30 June 2023.