In 2001 the Surrey League were convinced that they should enter a team in the National Women's Team series.  This caused a lot of interest among the women who were members of the League and it was a tough job selecting 6 women to take part.  It was so successful that the League saw a definite rise in the amount of women taking part in League events as well as a vast improvement in their abilities. 

The team showed great spirit and camaraderie, and were rewarded by leading the series at one stage and taking second place overall in the end.  Many of the squad took top 10 places during the series and the squad won the team prize on a number occasions.

The team was lead by the very experienced Cheryl Owens, who was making a come back to racing after a few years off.  The rest of the team were a mixture of experience and novices and included Lisa Thompson, Karen Jeffery, Collette Swift, Claire Cole and Nikki Wheeler.  Rhiannon Allport, Cherie Pridham, Jacqui Marshall and Laura Stewart all rode at least one event for the team when covering for injuries and holidays.

 

               

 Team - 2 Sept 2001                           Team - 6 May 2001                      "Power Pack" - training group     

 

With all the interest this has prompted, the League has a new coaching department called "Power Pack" run by John Leitch.  A number of coaching days have taken place over the winter months, and have included seminars and on the road coaching.  Women riders have come from many disciplines including: road, track, MTB XC, MTB Downhill, triathlon and running.  The League now has a list of some 50 women wishing to improve their abilities, ride League events and make it into the women's squad.

 

In 2002 the League will be entering two teams into the National Women's Team Series and a smaller select team will be riding the Reynolds National Series.

 

To enable the team selectors to pick the two squads for the Women's Team Series, two early season events have been made into selection races.  These are on March 9th at Hillingdon (1:30 PM) and March 24th at Goodwood (9:30 AM).  All events on the Surrey League calendar are open to women, but on the following dates women will have their own events: March 9th - Hillingdon, March 23rd - TAB, March 24th - Goodwood, March 31st - Goodwood, May 19th - Goodwood, July 28th - Goodwood (South East Division Championship), August 18th - Goodwood and August 25th - Goodwood.  It is hoped that a few more events will be added to the calendar at a proposed new circuit at Chertsey.