New Women’s Categories and Awards

Some of the feedback we have received from our members is that there isn’t enough recognition of our female riders or equity when it comes to racing at Eureka Cycling Club.

We acknowledge that, as a club that has a mostly male membership, we have struggled to find the balance in our racing that has attracted a large number of female riders and thus, our women’s membership numbers have not increased like we would like to have seen.

As a club who states in it’s purpose that it wants to foster a culture of positive and constructive inclusiveness through cycling and social activities for club members and guests, we think we can do better to provide an environment where women cyclists feel welcomed and encouraged to race and ultimately join Eureka Cycling Club.

This is not to say that we have actively discouraged female cyclists, it’s more that we haven’t appreciated the unique circumstances that are faced by women in cycling and racing against their male counterparts.

The challenge was always (and still is), how to provide a product that is inclusive and competitive at the same time with such low numbers of women members racing. It’s a difficult balance that most clubs struggle with which is evidenced by the lower numbers across the sport.

However, this wont discourage us from trying our best to offer something unique to attract more women to the sport and our Club, so this year we are introducing the following new categories to acknowledge and support Women’s Cycling in the Masters age groups.

Handicap Races - 1st Female Rider

Starting this year, every handicap event will have a new category for the First Female Rider to cross the line. This rider will be awarded and acknowledged at the presentations and they will receive an additional point to go toward the Women’s Aggregate Trophy.

Graded Scratch Races - 1st Female Rider (Per Grade)

In Graded Scratch Races (Division 1-4), if there are women racing in that category, there will be a 1st Female Rider Award and Prize Money (equal to a 3rd place prize money) along with the usual 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Awards/Prizes. If a female rider places 1st, 2nd or 3rd they will receive that award/prize as well as the 1st Female Rider Award/Prize. An additional Aggregate Point will also be awarded toward the Women’s Aggregate Trophy for these riders along with any point awarded for their results.

Annual Women’s Aggregate Trophy

This year we are introducing a Women’s Aggregate Trophy which will be awarded to female cyclist who accumulates the most Aggregate points over the course of the entire year. Points are awarded based on participation and finishing places as per the usual aggregate awards and additional points will be awarded for the first female rider in handicap and scratch events (non-opens and invitationals only). This award encourages and rewards regular and ongoing participation regardless of ability. Consistency and regular racing is the key to winning the Aggregate Trophy.

Women’s Club Championship

A Women’s Club Champion will be awarded this year based on the first female rider to finish in a Women’s Championship event should there be enough women members to have a dedicated race exclusively for women on the day. However in the event there are not enough women to field a dedicated women’s race, or the spread of abilities within the female riders would make a dedicated event too unfair, the first female rider who crosses the line in each category, will be crown the Women’s Champion in that category and the female rider who wins that award in the highest category on the day will be crowned the Women’s Club Champion.

Overall we hope these initiatives go some way to encouraging more female participation and we hope to see more women racing and joining the club to the point where we can have dedicated events that cater exclusively to women’s cycling. We would welcome your thoughts and feedback, particularly our female members and we encourage women cyclists who might be thinking of joining/racing this year to reach out and have a conversation with Julie Connellan on our committee about the club environment and the benefits of coming along to give racing a go.