Everybody at British Cycling was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Board Director Tabitha Rendall following a short illness.

Tabitha brought a wealth of experience and an infectious passion to her roles within British Cycling over the years, and played a vital role in supporting the development of BMX, cyclo-cross and a number of other disciplines in the South East region.

Her enthusiasm for BMX racing was clear, representing Great Britain at the UCI BMX World Championships every year from 2014-19. Tabitha also represented Great Britain at the 2006 Lausanne ITU Triathlon World Championships in the 35-39 age category.

Self-proclaimed ‘not particularly sporty’ as a child, it was Tabitha’s children Zach and Elsa who inspired her to give BMX racing a go, after they found enjoyment in the sport. The family trio hit the BMX scene together in 2014 and didn’t look back.

Tabitha was also a committed coach at Club Cyclopark, volunteering with the club and as an event organiser. Tabitha was passionate about the club’s inclusivity of all disciplines which had a big impact on the local community.

Tabitha’s commitment to supporting the British cycling scene continued as she took up roles as Chair of the South East Regional Board, National Councillor and Chair of the BMX Commission. Tabitha was also a great advocate for the off-road cycling disciplines and worked hard in her many roles to champion their growth at grassroots level and beyond. Strong and passionate, she had a real ability to get things done. She never shied away from getting involved and always tried to make a positive difference.

Tabitha joined the British Cycling Board of Directors in 2019 and committed herself to supporting British Cycling from the top down, acknowledging the changing and complex landscape of cycling and for sport more widely.  She had a strong belief that as the governing body for a variety of cycling disciplines, British Cycling should work to provide the support that each would need to move forward and ensure a healthy future for the sport of cycling, in all its guises.

In her professional career, Tabitha most recently worked as a Technical Specialist at the Financial Conduct Authority, following roles at Schroders, Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs.

British Cycling Chair, Frank Slevin said:

“Tabitha’s passing leaves a vast hole in our community, and on the Board. The number of tributes already paid to her is a testament to the impact she had across the whole cycling community. Tabitha was an inspiration to many and had a great ability to command attention and respect in a quiet and measured way.  She was a hugely admired colleague who could always be relied upon to bring valuable insights and a critical mind to any discussion.

“Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time, and she will be greatly missed by all of the British Cycling family."