Team of the Week: UYCC

After a discussion about blogs at our weekly meeting, it was decided that I would write a blog for Vision. At first, I thought Jack and Dave were asking me to write a diary of my sporting week, which often entails being extremely rowdy in Ziggy’s and making sure everybody knows I am from Manchester.

Don’t worry that’s not what they asked me to do.

I have been asked to write a blog every Saturday on my University/ College ‘Team of the Week’. Personally, I think it is a great idea as often more obscure sports slip through the net and fail to be recognised by campus media. I aim to change this and more recognition should be given to these clubs that are at times more successful than the most written about clubs.

My first choice is the University of York Cycling Club (UYCC) who stood out as one of the squads who did not fail to bring home the bacon for York. Even before their triumph at Roses, the club took part in cycling the Roses torch to Lancaster, along with other sporting talents at the University. With all this in the back of my mind, I couldn’t think of a better club to write my first report on.

Through Facebook stalking (we all do it), I realised that Jamie Raven, who was in my seminar last term, is in the club and helped the cycling team to victory. I asked him to write me a short report of UYCC as a whole and he said:

“The UYCC includes a wide range of activities, including road cycling to mountain biking and also leisure rides on weekends. With regards to the competitive side, the mountain bikers compete in the BUCS races for downhill and cross country. These are very competitive events, at a high standard.

“Road racing is more individual/less full team racing as at an amateur level, this is often the case. Greg Melia competes in Time Trials and I do hillclimbs, KajScarsbrook does cyclo-cross in the winter so competition is varied within the club. (These are all quite different disciplines within cycling)

“There are people who come out with the club to train hard, others just for a relaxing cycle or just to get away from the world for a few hours. We have club captains who lead rides on Wednesdays from campus out into the York countryside (both road and mountain bike) but we do try to cater for all abilities and cycling in a group should be inclusive at the end of the day so nobody will get dropped or left behind, usually the pace is slowed or the group splits up.

“Wednesday and leisure rides tend to be very social as it is nice to train with others and escape from University for a little bit. There are other rides throughout the rest of the week but with University work and being restricted to daylight riding many members elect to go out on their own as group riding isn’t really necessary for training; it’s just a bit more pleasant.”

In terms of whether males and females ride separately, newly elected president, Jess Taylor, confirmed: “At regional level women and men race together; at national level and some special events women ride separately.” Clearly this sets Cycling apart from other clubs and it seems that they are a unified club, in contrast to some sports who are split due to gender divisions. Furthermore she seemed excited at the prospect of some new developments at Heslington East which could be great for the club.

From what Jamie and Jess have said, UYCC seem to cater for all. Also, as every man and his dog have a bike to cycle to and from campus, there is no reason for you not to get involved. It not only seems like a great team to compete in but it also seems like an extremely friendly and welcoming club.

The Wednesday bike rides sound like a great way to get out of the hell that is the library and it seems like a good way to branch out and meet new people. Also, I have a tendency to stop all fitness when my netball finishes (I hope my captain isn’t reading this) so something like this would be perfect in summer term when all university sport training is put on hold.

I hope this blog has taught you a lot about the cycling club and they definitely deserve some recognition for their achievements this year. Next year in Roses, on home turf, could be a big one for this club and I am certain they will go from strength to strength.

If you think your club/team deserves Vision Sport’s Team of the week please email [email protected].