Dirt School: The Derek Laughland Memorial Award Returns for 2020!
We’re proud to announce our continued involvement with the Derek Laughland Memorial Award for a third year, taking another two young passionate riders under our wing and providing them with £500 worth of Dirt School vouchers to be used for technical coaching sessions. New for this year, we’re also offering a prize for a selected cycling club – a full days coaching with Dirt School for 12 young riders – allowing even more youngsters to reap the benefits of this generous prize.
The Derek Laughland Memorial Award was set up after the tragic passing of a much-loved husband and father, due to a brain haemorrhage at the Scottish Enduro Series in October 2017. His family took comfort in the fact Derek was doing what he loved, and the Derek Laughland Memorial Award was born.
Derek absolutely loved riding and racing his bike and was much loved within the mountain bike community and enduro scene always being seen with a smile on his face. The Derek Laughland Memorial prize does an excellent job of capturing Derek’s legacy.
If you’re a young rider aged under 18 or representing a group of under 18s through a cycling club and would like to apply for the award this year, we’re now taking applications. Please answer the following questions through our comments section at the bottom of this page to be in for a chance of being selected by the Laughland family…
Young Male and Female Rider (under 18)
- Your age, location and length of time riding
- What do you love about riding your bike?
- How will the Derek Laughland Memorial Award benefit you?
You must have permission from your parent/guardian to enter.
Cycling Clubs
- Please give us a little bit of background info on your club
- How will the Derek Laughland Memorial Award benefit the young riders in your club?
Applications close at 6pm on Monday 12th October, with winners being announced at 6pm on Wednesday 14th October. Once a winner has been selected applications will be published publicly to share everyone’s inspiration and love for riding bikes.
Good luck!
Hi, I am 16 years old and live near Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire. I have been riding for just over 3 years now, getting my first proper mountain bike in January 2018. I love riding my bike. Before a friend introduced me to the sport I was on a precarious trajectory to becoming a couch potato, losing interest in all the sports my family did. When I first rode a bike up to the local woods my life changed forever. Little did I know then the places I would end up. Just last weekend that was the top spot of a local enduro podium and a few months prior I was on top of a Munro at midnight!
I ride a lot as I love feeling strong and fit. However I struggle with some skills, especially on drops and jumps. I aspire one day to be on the top step of an EWS podium. The Derek Laughland Memorial Reward would benefit me massively in helping me achieve this goal. I hope that I can also encourage more girls to get out on their bikes and have as much fun as I have when I’m out on the trail and getting covered in mud!
Hi my name is David I am 15 and live just South of Edinburgh I have been riding mountain bikes for 5 years and road bikes before that. I love riding because it gives you a sense of freedom and adventure that no other sport does and the adrenaline Rush as well. I think this would help me progress my skills on the bike and pursue you my dream of racing professionally
I am part of the coaching team at Edinburgh RC. We are a club that has traditionally had a road and track focus however we are increasingly finding the young riders are building a love for mountain biking. We encourage the riders to build all round bike handling skills however as most of our volunteer coaches are Level 1, there is limited opportunity to coach the riders in the technical environment. This award will be of great benefit to our young riders and racers in helping to progress their bike handling skills and enhance their love of cycling.
Hi,
I’m a coach at West Lothian Cycling Club and an interested in entering our performance team into the selection for the Derek Laughland Memorial Award. Can you please send on information about the application process.
Thank you.
I have been riding for 4 years, starting with cycle cross and then moving onto enduro and DH.
I enjoy being out on my bike, all year round, having fun with friends and pushing myself to new limits and reach targets.
The fund will help me improve my riding and learn more skills. I am hoping to do some coaching myself someday so by spending more time with coaches I will hopefully learn how to get the best out of people.
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