Newbury Road Club celebrate memorable and inspiring year in the saddle with annual awards night

Newbury Road Club looked back on another successful and inspiring year at their annual awards night, held at Falkland Cricket Club.

From punctures to personal milestones, wet weather to wobbly wheels, the club’s members had a 2023 to remember and came together to celebrate some of the most outstanding achievements.

Cups, shields and trophies were awarded to honour stellar rides, incredible feats of endurance and some simply superb fundraising efforts.

The NRC has a thriving cycling community and its members went above and beyond once again last year – on and off the bike.

Racing highlights included a string of firsts for Andy Laycock who was named club 10 and 25-mile champion as well as winning the Veterans’ Time Trial Championship in the same distances.

For the ladies, Michelle Gautier claimed honours in the Women’s 25-Mile and Veteran’s 25-Mile TT Club Championship.

Richard Byrne won the Men’s Shield for non-aero racing and was top points winner in the Sporting Course series.

There were also firsts for Simon Hart in the Smith 25-Mile Handicap Trophy and fastest club member up Walbury Hill was Alex Pickard who was the club’s Hill Climb Champion.

Elsewhere in the club, Frank Edwards picked up the First Year Junior Trophy for completing the 350km Rebellion Way in 5 days while carrying his own kit.

Kirsten Bailkosk was presented with the NRC Women’s Award 2023 for conquering Land’s End to John O’Groats.

And there were shields for Alan Alewood for giving outstanding service to the club, and to Phil George for attending the most club rides in 2023, well over 100 in all weathers.

Special achievements were recognised on the night with Donal Linehan receiving ‘Ride of the Year’, for completing ‘Le Loop’ – all 21 stages of the Tour de France in 21 days, one week ahead of the professional event.

And the 2023 President’s Cup, for an ‘outstanding achievement in cycling’, was awarded to Marion Templeman.

In 2023, Templeman cycled across America from the West to East, self-supported and often solo.

That is 5,300 kilometres in 90 days and she raised over £23,000 for ‘Move Against Cancer’, having survived breast cancer herself in 2021.