A COLCHESTER cycling club welcomed back a double champion during a recent awards evening.
Tom White is the current British grass track champion over 400m and 800m.
He is also an alumnus of Colchester Rovers Cycling Club where his cycling career began.
Tom had spent six years with the club from 2013 to 2019 and has now returned to his hometown and first cycling club.
During the awards event, Tom met and raced against promising young cyclists who also collected prizes.
Tom said: “The coaches here were a huge help when I was starting out, so I’m always happy to come back to where my journey began at nine years old.
“One of the best things about grass track cycling is the tight-knit community – everybody here is always incredibly supportive of each other.”
Chris Douglas, track trainer at Colchester Rover’s Summer Grass Track club, added: “This night was a great way to celebrate our youth member’s cycling achievements, especially those who won awards for their efforts.
“Our summer sessions have been so much fun, and watching the young members go from strength to strength has been a highlight.”
Colchester Rovers Cycling Club have hosted youth grass track cycling sessions at Shrub End Playing Fields since 1987.
Taking place from May until July, the sessions welcome young riders of all ages and abilities.
Colchester-based marketing agency The Write Impression sponsored the event and donated £135 worth of gift cards to the top three riders in each age category.
Andrew Butcher, operations manager at The Write Impression, said: “We are really happy to sponsor a local club that enables young people of any ability to get on two wheels and have a go at such a fun and popular sport.
“It was a pleasure to be there on the night to help with handing out awards and contributing prizes.
"The evening was a real celebration of all the young members, the parents who supported, and coaches who committed the vital time and energy.
“With previous club members such as Tom going on to big things in cycling, the sky is the limit for this next generation!”
To find out more about Grass Track Cycling in Colchester, visit colchesterrovers.org.uk/youth-grass-track or email youthcycling@colchesterrovers.org.uk
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