AS THE 2015 season draws to a close, young cycling hopeful Lucy Shaw can look back on the year with a smile on her face following a hugely successful campaign.
The Solihull Cycling Club star has benefitted significantly from sponsorship from Hollywood Monster which has helped her final year as a junior with international training and a national title now under her belt after joining the Matrix Pro Cycling team.
Shaw joined the Matrix Fitness development team less than a year ago and back in August took the top spot in the Junior Women’s Scratch Race and Junior Women’s Points Race at the British Cycling Youth & Junior Track Championships earlier this year.
And Shaw believes signing up to Matrix Fitness, a team at the forefront of the development of women’s cycling in the UK, has been instrumental to her success in 2015.
“Being on Matrix Pro Cycling has been invaluable in my final year as a junior and has meant that I am in the best possible condition ready to make the step up to the senior ranks,” said Shaw.
“With the help of Hollywood Monster, I was able to experience what life as a professional cyclist is like, both at training camps and at races.
“For a young rider like myself this is crucial in helping me progress, as it meant that I was given an insight into what it takes to be the best.”
Shaw also talks about the importance of the team’s training camps and how they have provided much-needed experience to her final year as a junior.
“A highlight for me has been the training camps in Limoux, France, with the team,” she added.
“This enabled me to not only get a good base of training and learn from them, hear their stories, and get an understanding of how professional cyclists approach training; something that is crucial for me as I progress through my career.
“I have had such a great year with Matrix and Hollywood Monster, getting to compete in some great races with the team such as Ride London and the Tour of Brittany.
“I even managed to pick up a national title along the way. Without Hollywood Monster none of this would have been possible, and I cannot thank them enough for their support, believing in me, and giving me the confidence I needed to make my 2015 season successful.”
Experts in event signage, Hollywood Monster is known for its support of the local sporting community having sponsored the likes of Birmingham City Ladies Football Club and been involved with many community events such as the Balsall Common, Dorridge and Knowle Fun Runs.
Back in December 2014, the business signed up to sponsor Matrix Fitness and TeamGB hopeful Shaw, with the idea of her being able to build a professional career and progress at national and international championship events.
“I am thrilled to see how Lucy has developed,” said managing director Tim Andrews. “For us, this was about recognising the importance of local talent, helping them to progress and become the future sportsmen and women of tomorrow.
“Our team travels up and down the country installing signage at sports stadia and events, which gives us the chance to see the talent that’s homegrown.
“After working on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we’ve become closely aligned with the sporting world, installing everything from road barriers to podium signage for indoor and outdoor events, sports teams, and well-known venues.
“We’re proud to be based here in the UK and it’s great that we have the opportunity to support Lucy and the Matrix Fitness team, helping them to develop and succeed.”
Cycling is something very close to Tim’s heart so it is no surprise to see him help nurture local talent.
He added: “I am a founding member of the 7inSeven cycle initiative in 2013, which saw 25 riders take part in a gruelling 700-mile challenge, spanning seven countries in seven days.
“Overall, the event raised £130,000 for HelpHarryHelpOthers and Leukaemia for Kids, and Teenage Cancer Trust.
“Its success then led to the Coast2Coast challenge in 2014, which saw a number of the same (and new) riders cycling over 800 miles in seven days and raising £50,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust and the Stephen Staunton Foundation,” said Tim Andrews, Managing Director of Hollywood Monster.”
