The University of Nottingham Cycling Club have continued their fantastic progress by winning national recognition at the 2025 British Cycling Awards picking up the Emerging Club of the Year Award, as well as dominating the recent BUCS Hill Climb Championships.
Taking place at the Deansgate Hotel in Manchester on the 8th November, the 2025 British Cycling Awards recognises and celebrates the achievements of members, volunteers, clubs and riders across the UK. The University of Nottingham Cycling Club was shortlisted for two awards on the night, and we were delighted to see them win the Emerging Club of the Year award. This is deserved recognition for the work that everyone involved with the club has put in over the last few years, all leading to an amazing year in 2025.
The club has gone from a social, development club, to a whole rounded club with a clear pathway from beginners to elite performance athletes. This year introduced a new sponsored race team, giving students a way to race at across the country, with the team supported by international cycling brand, Kalas. The club also now organise multiple races across different disciplines, including BUCS 10, a round of Notts and Derby cyclocross league and regional championships.
George Cottrell and Matilda Gurney represented the club at the event to collect the award at the dinner and awards evening, and club president Cottrell reflected; "It was an amazing opportunity to represent the club and the University at the awards. The effort invested over the past few years by the committees and our coaches to bring the club to its current position has been substantial and it’s an honour for it to be noticed by British Cycling. There’s some big shoes to fill, but I believe the committee and I are dedicated to continuing all the great things the club does."
University of Nottingham Sport's Assistant Director of Sport - Performance, Alex Perry also said "We are proud and delighted to see the University of Nottingham Cycling Club awarded the title of Emerging Club of the Year at the British Cycling Awards. This is a fitting reward for the hard work and dedication of the students and staff who work tirelessly to drive forward the development of the club. Congratulations to the whole team and we look forward to supporting the club in their next chapter!"
To emphasise the growing success of the club, Nottingham athletes dominated the field at the recent 2025 BUCS Hill Climb Championships on the 1st November in Leicestershire. The club saw cyclists land on the podium in four of the five categories, with three of those taking to the top step as champions.
Hannah Clough crossed the line first in the Women's Individual race to win gold, whilst her team mate Eluned King finished in the top 5 to secure the Women's Team gold for Nottingham too. Meanwhile, in the Open categories, recent triathlon world title winner Oliver Conway took to the bike to pip his nearest rival by the slimmest of margins and claim another gold medal for the university. First year University of Nottingham Sport Scholar, Cormac Nisbet, would deliver a 7th place finish to ensure a team medal in the Open category too, with Nottingham rounding out their medal tally with a silver.
The club spoke of their success at the championships by saying "We’re unbelievably proud of the team for their performances at Terrace Hill, and while it’s sad to see hill climb season go, it can only mean one thing - track season begins! Perhaps after a bit of well deserved downtime though..."
The University of Nottingham Cycling Club race team is ready to take on its second year supported by Kalas Sportswear, and is hoping to match, if not better the good results of this year. The club is also passionate to continue organising races to not only give back to the racing scene, but to help promote the university, the sport department and what the club has to offer.
You can find out more about the British Cycling Awards here, the 2025 BUCS Hill Climb Championships here, and follow the University of Nottingham Cycling Club on social media here.