One of the most active clubs on the island, especially in the development of youth riders, VC Glendale is celebrating a big birthday this year by launching a new youth academy.
And the Belfast-based outfit is inviting expressions of interest in the ‘Youth Academy’ from male and female riders in the U14, U16, Junior and U23 categories. One of its current young riders, Dean Harvey, ended last year as Ireland's top ranked junior.
The ‘Youth Academy’ is being launched to mark the club’s anniversary,
with 40 years having passed since Mark Graham decided to bring the distinctive
Belgian national colours to West Belfast.
While Mark put in fantastic work in those all-important early years of getting a club off the ground, he was sadly killed in a road traffic crash on his way to a cyclocross race in Rostrevor in 1986.
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Mark Graham in the colours of VC Glendale in the early years, and the Youth Academy jersey for the 2021 season
But the idea and passion Mark began has endured and VC Glendale has gone from strength to strength down the years, with some big names in Irish cycling donning its colours at different times.
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These have included Rás winner and national champion Thomas Evans, Rás winner and Giro d’Italia rider Ciaran Power, top road and track international and seven-time Irish champion on the road David O’Loughlin, world track champion and Olympian Martyn Irvine and Phillip Deignan, a former pro with Team Sky and a Vuelta stage winner.
Others who have
written their stories into the history of the club include Brendan Graham,
Brendan Doherty, Colm Watson, Barry Monaghan, Denis Easton and, calling the
shots on the road, Frankie Campbell.
“In 2021 VC
Glendale is planning to bring the club back to its former glory with an array
of coaching talent and the experience of some of the aforementioned riders and
a lot of new members,” the club said.
“The aim of this
academy will be to develop young riders in all disciplines to help them become
successful senior racers. What we are looking for from riders is commitment,
enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and constantly improve and the ability to
work as part of a team.
“This team will
help develop young riders through a tricky period of racing years and lend them
countless years experience and coaching,” said the club of supporting riders.
Any riders now in the U14 to U23 age groups, and who are interested in adding to the legacy of the club as it starts its Youth Academy, are invited to send their expressions of interest and a CV to [email protected].
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