Scotland’s cycling champions for 2022 announced

Scotland’s Cycling Champion of the Year Award winners have been revealed for 2022.

The annual awards, now in their sixth year, are presented in partnership by Cycling Scotland, Cycling UK, Scottish Cycling and Sustrans Scotland. The honour recognises those individuals and organisations that have made a lasting impression on cycling in Scotland in the last year.

The winners were selected by a judging panel representing each partner organisation after a public nomination process earlier in the year. The panel was impressed by the quality and breadth of nominations again this year, which made selecting winners across the six categories a challenge.

Visionary Champion of the Year – Ann Berry of Biosphere Bikes, Girvan

Ann Berry is founder of not-for-profit social enterprise Biosphere Bikes, based in Girvan. Running since the beginning of 2021, the company started life operating from a refurbished cargo container, providing two-wheel hire bikes to residents and visitors to the coastal town.

Committed to promoting greater accessibility and inclusion, Biosphere quickly grew to offer a range of adapted cycles, including e-cycles, three-wheel and four-wheel cycles.

During the pandemic, Biosphere loaned out free cycles to key workers, providing them with a safe way to continue travelling to work. Biosphere has also worked to refurbish and donate used bikes for Ukrainian refugees who have settled in the area.

Ann Berry said: “It’s absolutely amazing to win the award and really unexpected. It’s fantastic for this project and this business and the people who have supported it. This wouldn’t work without the support of the local community, and this award says thank you to all of them.

Young Champion of the Year – Amelia Shuttleworth, Glasgow Riderz

Amelia Shuttleworth, winner of Young Champion of the Year award, has been recognised for the contribution she has made at youth cycling club Glasgow Riderz, not only as a coach but as a committee member advocating for activities to encourage more girls to participate.

In her early years with the club, Amelia was often the only girl involved in the sessions, leaving her feeling isolated and considering giving up her involvement.

However, through Amelia’s determination to share her love for cycling and her encouragement of others, the club has successfully grown to include many more girls in its rides, races and events.

Amelia Shuttleworth said: “I’m really happy to win this award, especially as it shows other clubs how easy it is to support and encourage girls getting into sport in general, as well as to support the social, community aspect of cycling. Thank you so much for this award, I really do appreciate it.”

Community Champion of the Year for Everyday Cycling – 1st Step Development Ventures, based in West Lothian and Falkirk

Maria Throp is development manager for 1st Step Development Ventures, a community-led charity providing opportunities for people affected by addiction and poor mental health to gain confidence, skills and qualifications through bike repairs.

In its four years of operations, 1st Step has worked closely with local schools across Falkirk and West Lothian by donating refurbished second-hand bikes, helping children from deprived areas to participate in Bikeability training.

Maria Throp said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to all the partners who have organised the award and those who nominated us. It’s been a brilliant surprise to us, but it’s significant for our volunteers.

“A lot of our volunteers when they start with us can be quite vulnerable and not feel very confident. So, to be recognised for their contribution to our communities is fabulous for our volunteer team and staff.”

Community Champion of the Year for Sport and Recreation – Colin Chisholm, Falkirk

Colin Chisholm has been recognised for the contribution he has made to the promotion of cycling events and activities as a commissaire, as well as his commitment to supporting the development of other officials and volunteers.

Qualified across four cycling disciplines including Regional A cyclocross and Regional A road, Colin has also played a hugely valuable role in the Scottish Cycling Events Team in a voluntary capacity, coordinating all cyclocross commissaries appointments across Scotland.

Trainee commissaires have provided consistent feedback commending Colin’s patient training style and his eagerness to give them opportunities to gain experience across a range of roles.

Colin Chisholm said: “It’s fantastic to win this Community Champion award, and totally out of the blue. It’s nice that somebody recognises the effort you’ve put in. I give up my time freely because you just need to look round at all the smiling faces at our events.

“I’d like to say thanks very much for the award. It means a huge amount to me, because it’s not just my award, it’s on behalf of all the other organisers and volunteers that help out.”

It’s absolutely amazing to win the award... It’s fantastic for this project and this business and the people who have supported it. This wouldn’t work without the support of the local community, and this award says thank you to all of them

Ann Berry of Biosphere Bikes

Cycle Shop Champion of the Year – Hart’s Cyclery, Edinburgh

Hart’s Cyclery, based in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, is winner of the Cycle Shop Champion of the Year.

The shop’s staff are recognised for the contribution they have made to encouraging people in Edinburgh and beyond to adopt cycling, as well as owner Graeme Hart’s role as a campaigner for positive change.

Graeme Hart of Hart’s Cyclery said: “Thank you very much indeed for this award. I’m immensely grateful and it’s lovely to get recognised. It’s great and humbling that people have noticed the work that we do getting people on bikes and talking about how we can encourage even more people on bikes in future.”

Business Champion of the Year – Cut Media, Glasgow

Cut Media is a content studio based in Glasgow. When looking for a new home after outgrowing their original studio, the company decided it wanted to include cycling facilities at the heart of the new workspace for the benefit of its team.

Consulting with the team on what could be done to make cycling a more accessible commuting option for everyone, the company then installed a series of measures, including secure indoor bike storage, lockers, showers and clothes drying space.

As a result, the team has embraced cycling as an option for getting around the city, whether commuting to the office or meeting face to face with clients.

Clare Brown, Operations Manager, and Jill McDonald, Accounts Manager, at Cut Media, said: “We’d love to thank the panel for choosing us as Business Champions of the Year. Cycling for us isn’t just a hobby or passion, but aligns with our wider values, with a belief that a healthier, happier team work so much better.

We all feel better when we’re active and it makes everybody feel a lot stronger, healthier and a lot happier.”

A spokesperson for the awards panel said: “We are thrilled to be able to present each of these deserved winners with their awards, recognising how they have each gone above and beyond to support people in their local communities to enjoy the benefits of cycling.”