From Otley To Italy

James Shrubsall joins members of Otley CC, CW’s current Club of the Year, as they get fitted out for their new kit at the Santini factory in Bergamo

- James Shrubsall

It may be a pretty big deal having Lizzie Deignan as your patron, but Otley Cycling Club earned the Club of the Year crown in last year’s Cycling Weekly Awards thanks to a wide range of projects and ventures that cement their status as a progressive set-up while maintaining their original ethos as a serious club for competitive cyclists.

Part of this is the club’s inclusivity, as evidenced by their impressive women’s and young riders’ sections.

“The kids’ coaching is extremely popular,” says female member Claire Jessop, a keen time triallist who you may have seen bothering the top women’s positions in the local opens.

And it’s that kids’ coaching that helps make the club so competitive on the local circuit. “We’re really building on the youth and the race team. The club has put a lot of focus on that,” adds Claire.

She is joined by her husband Greg — also an Otley CC member — and we’re in Italy, near Bergamo, having come out to visit the Santini factory. It’s part of Otley CC’s Club of the Year award; a factory visit and a brand new load of club kit from the family-run clothing manufacturer, based in Lallio, just outside Bergamo.

“I tend to follow Claire,” Greg laughs. “My objective is to keep getting better at the TTs — I do opens and the ‘triangles’ [the club’s own time trial series].

“I think Club of Year, what it’s done, is it’s really invigorated the youth to really want to be part of the club. And that’s key I think — it’s been growing and growing.”

Like most clubs, Otley has an awards ceremony each year to present trophies to their most successful riders. But this year the club also put on a special event to mark their Club of the Year award.