Youth cycling coach receives achievement award

A local cycling enthusiast has received an award for his work with young people.

A LOCAL cycling enthusiast has received an award for his work with young people.

Chris Boulton was awarded British Cycling’s Central Region Volunteer of the Year award at its annual Go-Ride conference in Reading held recently.

Mr Boulton, who lives in Highclere, received the award for his work in setting up a youth coaching section for Newbury Road Club, where he is also club president.

The coaching sessions Chris runs are held at Park House School in Newbury from 6.30 to 7.30pm on Thursday evenings. The sessions are skills- based and cater for children aged five to 16.

“Although some of the kids want to race, the sessions are all about teaching the core skills we all need to ride a bike,” Mr Boulton said.

Three members of his current coaching group have just completed racing during the winter cyclo-cross season and more are preparing for their first youth circuit race at Castle Combe on Good Friday.

Mr Boulton, the chief executive of the Greenham Common Trust, has recently returned from a British Cycling course enabling him to become a British Cycling Level 3 coach, the highest coaching award possible. He also coaches at Palmer Park Velo in Reading, based at the velodrome there.