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Hannah Leyland.

As an established British Club, VC St Raphael, supported by Waite Contracts and Hewitt Cycles, can boast consistent success over the years and with previous members including several Olympic and Paralympic Gold Medallists, the club is highly regarded on the road, track and grass track as well as being a hot bed for tandem talent with the club winning the National Tandem Sprint on many occasions.

As Women’s Racing goes from strength-to-strength in the UK and many women now looking for a structured environment in which to race, expanding the women’s section of the club coincides well with Sport England’s £10 million Active Women Campaign announcement on Wednesday 6th January 2011. Club owner and title sponsor, Mick Waite is delighted with the new recruits saying:

“Since the team's first women riders joined in 1991, the team has always supported women's racing with their riders winning National and World titles over the years. However, with the increased interest in women's racing, it seemed the right time to up the size of the team which now has an excellent blend of riders with experienced management in place."

Joining five existing members will be seven riders who have varying degrees of racing experience, but all girls have the common goal to get the best out of their cycling and working in a team environment in order to do this. With targets in Road Racing, Circuit Racing, the Women’s Team Series, Grass Track Championships, Track Omniums and National Track Championships later in the year, it will be a busy season of racing. 

Managing the squad will be Barney Storey MBE (above at the front of the tandem) and he is excited about the opportunities women’s racing in the UK will now provide for the club’s riders:

“I’ve watched the women’s peloton grow in the UK over recent years and we are now seeing fast, tough racing which is very spectator friendly and will only serve to increase the popularity of the sport further. I have raced for VC St Raphael for many years and they are a great club in supporting their riders, with a friendly and supportive atmosphere which is the perfect place for riders to develop their skills."

"I will be helping the girls with race tactics and giving them the know how to race as a team. There will be some riders who have their eyes on guest places at international events and some of the girls are planning some time out in Belgium. I am sure it will be a great season for all concerned and I am excited to see how it works out.”

Senior women in the squad will be existing members Rusine Heald, Rachel McGranaghan and Anselma Gallinat as well as under 23 rider Harriet Whewell and 1st year junior Hannah Layland. Joining the team will be seniors Heather Bamforth and Eleanor Jones, under 23’s Rachael Withers, Sarah Byrne, Elle Hopkins and Louise Higgs as well as one further 1st year junior Natalie Hill.

With Hannah Layland currently on the British Cycling Olympic Development Programme, former British Talent Team Riders, Elle Hopkins, Sarah Byrne, Louise Higgs and Natalie Hill as well as Rachael Withers who has been on the Irish Development squad, there is a depth of young talent which mixes well with the older riders.

Seniors:
Rusine Heald, Rachel Mc Granaghan, Anselma Gallinat, Heather Bamforth, Eleanor Jones

Under 23’s:
Sarah Byrne, Elle Hopkins, Louise Higgs, Rachael Withers, Harriet Whewell

1st year Juniors
Hannah Layand, Natalie Hill