MORE than 100 members of Kendal Cycle Club (KCC) attended the group's inaugural annual dinner and awards ceremony at the Castle Green Hotel.

The dinner was a chance for members to meet up away from their bikes, and celebrate how much the club has achieved in the past year.

The evening was opened by club chair Iain Childs, who marvelled at the club’s rapid growth. The idea for KCC came about from a chance conversation outside Greggs in Kendal almost three years ago, and the first ride with just eight riders took place the following October.

In just over two years, the club has grown to more than 500 members, all with the common bond of a love of cycling.

KCC now offers road and mountain bike rides every week, has a thriving junior section and has a growing number of members racing and taking part in sportives and long-distance rides.

Prior to the ceremony, members had voted Hillary Coates the most improved female rider and Tim Price the most improved male rider.

Helen Jackson scooped two awards, winning female racer of the year (for the most British Cycling points) and highest annual mileage. David Smith and Ian Hansen won the men’s categories for these awards.

Guy Pocock received the act of kindness award, and Christine Fisher was named volunteer of the year. Rory Black was voted club member of year, for overall contribution to the club, and Karen Gee won the chair’s award.

The evening was rounded off by Dean Downing, who gave a brief overview of his career as a pro-cyclist with teams such as Rapha Condor and Madison Genesis and his experience of winning the 2008 British National Circuit Race Championships, before running a Q&A session. Topics ranged from doping in cycling through to the best foods to eat whilst riding and whether Cumbria or Yorkshire has the best roads for cycling.

Kendal Cycle Club always welcomes new members, with an introductory ride for non-members on the first Saturday of every month. For more information please visit the club website at Kendal.cc