ABERGAVENNY Road Club was once again a big winner at the 2015 USN Welsh Cycling Awards in Cardiff.

Abergavenny RC won the Club of the Year award for the third year in a row and was also named Race Organiser of the Year for the British Cycling National Cyclo Cross Championships.

And the Colin Thornton Memorial Award for best Welsh Junior Performance, awarded in memory of the Commonwealth cyclist, was given to Ffion James of Abergavenny RC.

James, the younger sister of double world champions Becky and Rachel, has been successful in mountain bike cross country and cyclo cross over the last year – winning national titles and finishing 13th in the UCI World Mountain Bike XC Championships with Great Britain.

Abergavenny RC were also runners-up in the Go Ride Club of the Year category, with Towy Riders claiming the top prize on the night.

There were also several Gwent winners on the night with Langstone’s Ciara Horne winning the Outstanding Performance of the Year award with Amy Roberts and Elinor Barker for their team pursuit gold medal success at the 2014/2015 UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Guadalajara alongside Laura Trott.

Horne said: “We didn’t expect to win this at all. It was really good to be able to ride together in Guadalajara and to come back with a gold medal.

“It’s great to be recognised by Welsh Cycling and the support over the years to get us to this level has been amazing, from both British Cycling and Welsh Cycling.”

Coach of the Year was awarded to Garrie Tillett of Newport, who coaches young riders at Wales National Velodrome each week. Anthony Jones (Towy Riders) and Paul Crapper (Abergavenny RC) were runners up.

Breeze Champions Mary Trenfield and Christine received Volunteer of the Year.

The pair were some of the first women to become Breeze Champions in Wales, and have embraced the role inspiring more women to ride bikes in Newport. Fellow ride leader John Wheat of Newport Social Cycling Group was also recognised.

Richard Hopkins of Cwmcarn Paragon received the award for Race Official of the Year.

Geraint Thomas won Elite Cyclist of the Year and the Lifetime Contribution to Cycling in Wales was awarded to John Lloyd MBE of Builth Wells, for his years of commitment to developing and supporting mountain biking in Wales.