THE first Chard Wheelers have won three-year sponsorship from three firms.

The deals have been secured with Alchemilla Architects Ltd, Redchilli Bikes Ltd and Unicam Health and Rehab.

Buckland St Mary based, Alchemilla Architects Ltd is a RIBA Chartered Practice.

Brandon Ellis, club chairman said, “On behalf of all our members, I would like to thank Alchemilla and Redchilli Bikes for the continued support for the next three years and welcome the club’s new sponsor Uni-Cam.

“As well as the undoubted benefits of sponsorship, the club sponsors are a link with the local business and encourages the club to be outward looking and involved with partners in the wider local community."

“Since we welcomed our first sponsor 10 years ago, the club has grown from only twenty or so members to currently over one hundred and fifty, due in no small part to this open and outward looking ethos. The club now has rides and activities taking place most days of the week throughout the year.

“In the past 10 years the club has seen several members achieve national level performances, the most recent being Wiebke Rietz winning her category at the National Hill Climb Championships. These successes have been helped in no small way by the sponsorship 1st Chard Wheelers has received.”

Principal architect Wiebke Rietz said: “Our renewed sponsorship of First Chard Wheelers is our contribution to developing and encouraging cycling as a very energy efficient form of transport, as well as a way of keeping fit and healthy.”

Redchilli Bikes is based in Axminster, Devon, and makes custom bike builds and framesets for Road, TT and Track.

Redchilli’s boss David Darby said: “Our reason for continuing support to 1st Chard Wheelers, is due to the ethos of the club; the help/coaching provided to the younger riders, the welcoming approach to new members and the wide variety of social rides, hard rides, training rides, etc."

“The club is a truly multi-platform club and no matter whether members are aspiring racers or just family members wanting a quiet social ride, the club supports one and all.”

Unicam Health and Rehab, located in Chard, specialises in the manufacture and supply of cycle crank technology, used by both NHS, private physiotherapists, professional sports institutions, and individuals unable to cycle by conventional means.

Unicam’s Paul Butterworth said: “Cycling is our passion and we are delighted to be able to support the 1st Chard Wheelers.

“The club has a great bunch of dedicated people who give their time freely in support of others and offer a fantastic service to the local cycling community.”

For more information, visit www.1stchardwheelers.com.