ROBYN Clay and Emily Middlebrooke, both multiple award winners at Otley Cycle Club’s annual prizegiving bash at Otley Golf Club, have set themselves testing but achievable targets for 2023.

Clay, who in October was the 10th and last rider to join for the Pro-Noctis Heidi Kjeldsen 200 Degrees Coffee road team for this season, picked up three Otley CC awards – the Triangle fastest woman and the road and circuit prizes.

The Menston teenager, who works one day a week in a local café to give her a bit of money, will be riding a mixture of National Series and National Tour races domestically, as well as international events in Belgium and Portugal this year.

She said: “I would like to win a National Series race and a Tour Series race and just improve overall from last season.”

The 19-year-old notched two wins in Belgian elimination (Kernesse) races last year, was fourth in the Newark National Series Finale and 19th in the Women’s Road Race Championship.

Clay, not forgetting her roots, said: “Otley Cycling Club have really helped me out – not just financially but just by support in general.

“They are always there to help you whenever you need it, as are Chevin Cycles, both pushing me in the right direction.”

Robyn also revealed how her influential her dad Jonny, a silver medallist in the individual pursuit at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medallist at the 2000 Olympic Games in the team pursuit, has been.

She said: “He is always giving me advice and has been very helpful. He doesn’t push me too hard, but he knows how hard to push me.

“Ian Cullen and Pete Middlebrooke, of Otley Cycle Club, have been really helpful too.”

Emily picked up four Otley CC awards – the hill climb Queen of the Mountain, the track champion and the under-16 road and circuit champion.

The 16-year-old from Otley has already won the under-16 girls’ category at the Ilkley Town Centre race and was eighth in her category at the National Championships.

As for 2023, she said: “I would like to finish in the top 20 in national junior races.”

Like Robyn, Emily is not lacking in local support.

The Prince Henry’s Grammar School pupil admitted: “I also get a lot of support from Otley Cycle Club, and it is good to have my dad (Pete) as the team racing manager.

“I enjoy the freedom that cycling gives me and it is good living in Yorkshire with all of the hills.”

Emily is taking A-Levels in food technology, applied sciences and English language, and revealed: “I would like to have a gap year after my A levels to see how cycling goes.”