30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATES RAYNER LEGACY FUNDING BRITISH RIDERS EUROPEAN DREAMS

 

THE Dave Rayner Foundation which has paved the way for over 90 British riders to join Continental pro teams over the past three decades, celebrates its 30^th anniversary with a fund-raising dinner in Leeds on November 8.

The occasion has long been established as a major social highlight of the year in the UK, inviting famous name guests from home and abroad.

 Here’s the link:

https://www.theraynerfoundation.org/event-details/the-30th-anniversay-rayner-foundation-charity-dinner-2025

 The Rayner Fund continues to provide budding racers, young men and women, with opportunities to test themselves in the field of combat in the vibrant European racing calendar.

One such former Rayner rider is Oscar Onley, 25,  who was a remarkable fourth in the 2025 Tour de France. Onley was Rayner funded in 2021 and 2022.

Oscar Onley, the former Rayner funded rider, pictured during the 2025 Tour de France when he finished 4th overall.

Over the past 30 years the Rayner fund has provided £1.2m in rider support, providing 663 grants to place young men and women in overseas clubs and teams to learn their craft. In that time 92 riders, have progressed into the pro ranks, many to World Tour teams.

But the Fund couldn’t provide such opportunities without financial support and at the Leeds dinner, the famous auction of cycling memorabilia aims to generate more income to keep the wheels turning.

 “We started this year with 38 riders. Some have fallen by the wayside, we still have 32 out there!” explains Jocelyn Ryan, Rider Liaison.

In 2024 six Rayner supported riders turned professional. The year before, three joined pro teams and in2022, five turned pro.

 As well as funding individuals, the Foundation’s Gateway Project supports teams of riders abroad, for junior men, junior women and senior women development teams.

In this way, it created some 200 opportunities to race abroad in 2022, for 10 different teams on 33 separate trips.

Keith Lambert, the former British professional champion, now a member and trustee of the Rayner Foundation, says. “The experience or racing in Europe is seen as a necessity in the development of ever-younger riders, assisting more British riders to hopefully progress to become future professionals.”

 To which Ryan adds that they have had some great fundraising activity the last few months – including but not exclusively, former pro Allan Peiper donating some amazing memorabilia including three jerseys from Tadej Pogacar from his first Tour de France victory.

Photographer Phil O’Connor also did a sponsored walk over 100 miles, and the Etape du Dales was a success with 300 riders taking part.

 The Rayner Fund was founded in 1995 following the death of UK’s leading professional at the time, Dave Rayner.

The charity's objectives are to help young people advance in life through the sport and healthy recreation of cycling.

Recent women juniors to benefit include Cat Ferguson, Carys Lloyd and Imogen Wolff who have all joined the growing ranks of women professionals now. Also among the pros are Millie Couzens riding for Fenix and Josie Nelson, for PICNIC.

Awen Roberts who is in a development team had a delayed start to season due to injury.

Robyn Clay who is in a UK team was able to spend a few weeks in Belgium away from the team to cram in as much racing as possible.

“We think she will become a professional but no announcement yet. While in UK she won the National Series.” Explains Ryan.

However, some youngsters take some convincing to commit to live and racing abroad, she says. “It’s ironic as they have so many opportunities to become professional and in my opinion they often miss the basic apprenticeship.

Jack Brough, Harry Hudsen and Adam Mitchell are just three from a large group of young men experiencing Continental racing made possible by the Foundation.