Cycling club's gold stars (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Cycling club's gold stars

12:00pm Monday 12th November 2012 in Chard

THE 1st Chard Wheelers cycling club has been celebrating double success at South Somerset District Council’s Gold Star awards.

The awards are presented each year to nominated people or groups who have made an exceptional contribution to the community or are high achievers in sport.

The Wheelers picked up two Gold Stars at the presentation night held last week at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil.

A club spokesman said: “It was a great honour to be nominated as the sporting awards cover all sports across our entire region.”

Club chairman and senior coach Brandon Ellis took the prize for best senior coach in recognition of his tireless work coaching and promoting cycling and, in particular, his determination to encourage youth riders into the sport.

Top Elite female racer Wiebke Rietz took the award for best senior sports performer. Wiebke, after only five years’ cycle racing, has gained Elite status and is ranked alongside the likes of Laura Trott, Sarah Storey, Danni King and Lizzie Armistead, all of Olympic fame.

Ryan White, from the Wheelers, was nominated for best junior sports performer but just lost out to an under-18 decathlete who has been selected to represent Great Britain.

Further success for the Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne area came when the Active Skills and Learning group was named Gold Star award winner for the young people project of the year category.

The group was formed in 2008 and since then has supported more than 200 young people as volunteers – providing a range of youth clubs across the area for seven to 19-year-olds.

Central to the group’s success are the young volunteers themselves helping to manage and deliver services.

A council spokesman said: “These young people are excellent role models, proving that – if given the opportunity and support – they can be at the heart of local solutions and really make a difference.”