Prestigious clubmark award for Verulam Cycling Club earns praise from top brass
Verulam Cycling Club chairman Doug Driscoll trains some of the club’s youngsters at Gosling Sports Park. - Credit: Archant
Verulam Cycling Club have been recognised with a prestigious award – one which has earned praise from governing body British Cycling.
The St Albans-based club is one of the largest in the area, with almost 500 members, and the clubmark award has been given to them in recognition of their high standards.
They join a select group of cycling clubs across the country in fulfilling the necessary criteria to achieve British Cycling's Go-Ride accreditation.
British Cycling said: "Our congratulations go out to Verulam CC on achieving Go-Ride clubmark status.
"The coaches and volunteers work extremely hard to provide opportunities for young people to get involved in cycling and we look forward to continue supporting them in the future.
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"We're sure that the club will continue to achieve great things."
Clubmark is a universally acknowledged cross-sport scheme introduced by Sport England for community sports clubs, which recognises high standards in welfare, equity, coaching and club management.
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Each club is required to submit a portfolio of evidence showing that they meet the relevant criteria, including suitably qualified volunteers, regular coaching sessions and club development plans.
Throughout the application process, Verulam demonstrated an environment that assures member welfare and promotes cycling as a lifelong sport.
Part of their evidence was the Friday Night Track League which returned with a bang at Gosling Park Velodrome in Welwyn Garden City.
Run in conjunction with Welwyn Wheelers, it forms part of Verulam's 2019 youth development programme, designed to offer youngsters a pathway into cycle sport in traffic-free cycling venues.
Some of those youngsters have now graduated to the club's racing team, Verulam Reallymoving, and they continue to bring back good results.
Jamie Maxen was second in a closely-contested sprint in the Hillingdon Slipstreamers Youth Summer Series while fellow U16 Will Smith was third in the West Suffolk Wheelers Ixworth Cycle Race.
U14 Beth Watson was also third in the Milton Keynes Bowl Midweek Youth Race Series.
