Based upon member feedback we agreed that for this years awards we would provide you a shortlist. You can find that shortlist below.
If you wish to nominate anyone other than the below for voting please follow the instructions in the Spond message. Nominees must be received by 5pm Wednesday 5th February.
Spirit of NTR
| Kyle Hodgson | Kyle asked about racing & all the racing info, etc, he put his mind to dipping his toe into a 25 mile TT up in Pegswood. Next on his list was to race in 7 x hill climbs in the season, with the hope of getting an entry into the National hill race. He managed to get in as a reserve which completed his season off. During his H/climb time Kyle offered to write Blogs on our social media for NTR which typifies the Spirit of NTR. Sadly Kyle will race for MCC for 2025 season. |
| Sarah Minto | Everyone knows Minto! This year Sarah has really stepped up her racing representing NTR across CX races – regularly getting on the podium; joined most of the weekly club rides both gravel and road, and done some epic trips to France and Spain. On top of this she has also become an NTR Coach and is now regularly coaching our Junior members. She embodies everything we look for in an NTR member has and would be a great choice as this years ‘Spirit of NTR’ |
| Lee Head | The NTR motto is “Get amongst it” and Lee really embodies this. He attends the vast majority of NTR weekly rides both on the road and on the dirt. Quite often leading from the front. He has organised and run a successful supported backpacking trip, has represented the Club in CX races for a number of seasons and is always a willing hand when it comes to helping with course setting and marshalling at races and time trials. This year Lee has really shown the Spirit of NTR and Got Amongst It |
| Suzanne McArdle | Suzanne McArdle: Suzanne might love purple clothing but she bleeds black and yellow. She’s a seasoned accomplished rider equally happy with a local gravel pootle, a French Alp climb or a UK 100+ mile ride. She’s raced CX for NTR, she’s marshalled at NTR events, organised NTR rides, supported club rides. She literally is everything NTR |
Rider of the year
| Kris Jones | Kris Jones synopsis: Kris signed up to ride from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise money for his chosen charity but he was forced to abandon on medical advice after riding over 500 miles in cold, wet and adverse windy weather whilst camping overnight. |
| Jenny Nel | Jenny Nel is the rider of the year. Why? She’s the most versatile in NTR. Strong at the front, but always willing to help out someone at the back. Road or off-road; she’s always there. 3 times up Mont Ventoux? Why not? You’ll be hard pushed to find a better wheel to follow – and she’s always smiling |
| Dan Robinson | Most members know Dan because he attends a lot of rides. It doesn’t matter what it is, at some point you’ll see him out there: bread and butter club rides, ad-hocs, gravel, TT racing, hill climbs, cyclocross, etc. On top of this he keeps riding further and faster every year – what an absolute lad, truly worthy of Rider of the Year. |
| Michael Lee | A long time member of NTR, Michael is one of our quicker riders who not only competes for NTR in CX racing and hill climbs, but is regularly joining our gravel and road rides. He is always pushing himself and others around him to improve. Also has completed some epic longer rides this year. The annoying thing is while we all get older – he still seems to be improving every year. This year has been his strongest yet ! |
Most Improved Rider
| David Walton | Davey Walton synopsis: Davey has been a regular rider with NTR for a few years but this year he has taken ‘elevation’ to a new level. Relatively modest mileage of 4000 miles for the year but with an impressive 240,000 ft of elevation, including one 15,000ft day & many of over 10,000. |
| Natalie Favell | Nat joined NTR in 2023 and soon established herself as a regular on TNT & Sunday club rides. In 2024 her pace and endurance both increased and she bagged her first century before completing the epic C2C2C; 200 miles in truly awful conditions. |
| Naill Hindmarsh | Niall joined NTR in May 2022, always keen to join club rides. Over the last year with a combination of determination and lifestyle changes, he and his stamina have improved immensely from, in his words, “biting off more than [he] could chew” to culminate in nailing Matt’s Spring Classic Century to Seahouses in 2024. A most worthy candidate for NTR’s most improved rider award. |
| Sarah Brett | Sarah Brett has always been a strong supporter of NTR but hung around in the background for far too long. Since the Dirt bag Bug bit, there’s been no holding her back and her abilities have absolutely skyrocketed. Sarah not only keeps on improving but also strives to bring others on for the journey too. |
| Michael Hannant | Michael is one of the Monday night off road regulars, he commutes to work most days by bike and also tries to get out as much as possible on other rides. Since joining (and even more so since taking up a regular cycle commute) Michael’s speed and bike skills have increased to no end (although it would seem a bit of ice on the coast road can still take him out) and Michael has also lost a good few KG by riding regularly. He is also always willing to take on hosting a ride if the regular ride leaders are unavailable. |