Eddie Lynch has been returned as club president for a third year following the selection of the officers and committee at the club AGM on Tuesday evening.

Speaking in front of a record attendance of over 70 club members Lynch spoke of his pride at the growth in club membership over the past few years which continued in 2010 and of his satisfaction in the creation of a percentage based system for allocation of club funds for different activities.

Looking to the future Lynch stated that, while the club is currently underrepresented at A1 and A2 level, the influx of talented rookie racers in the past season gives great hope for the future.

He also spoke of his hope that a structured coaching programme for club members at all levels could be instituted and outlined plans for a one-day workshop to be presented by Paddy Doran to identify needs and divide riders into interest groups.

Lynch also detailed the forthcoming rollout of the Subway Sprocket Rocket programme in which Orwell Wheelers, with four accredited tutors, will be heavily involved. This programme, created by Cycling Ireland to develop skills and interest in 7-11 year-old cyclists, is set to complement Dave McLoughlin’s very successful Youth cycling programme.

Club Secretary Dave McLoughlin detailed some statistics relating to the club pointing out that with almost 300 members, Orwell Wheelers was comfortably the biggest club in the country. The average age of club members is 28, a particularly encouraging statistic given that the average age of Cycling Ireland membership is 38.

Orwell also has the largest women’s section in the country with more than 20% female membership, significantly higher than the Cycling Ireland average of 16%.