Family flying on 2 wheels

Jun 25 2008 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THERE’S one very, very proud dad living in Canada at the moment.

Once upon a time David Hobson was a dedicated cyclist – he still is, in fact – and a proud member of Holme Valley Wheelers, one of the most active cycling clubs in Yorkshire, with more than 100 members.

He had the honour of becoming the club’s junior champion back in 1962.

David was known as a very rapid rider in his day and points out his winning time for the Woodhouse Hill climb as a junior was a couple of seconds faster than the 2007 winner.

A turn of speed indeed.

He has been living in Canada for many years and has now had the exciting news that his daughter, Leigh Hobson, has been selected to represent Canada in the Beijing Olympics.

And what’s more, it’s on two wheels!

What more proof that to be successful you first have to choose your parents?

Leigh, 37, will be one of three women and three men riding for their country in road events at the Games.

Cycling is still David’s preferred method of travel and not just on the nice days. He bikes in winter too, sometimes a tough challenge in the harsh weather of Canada.

Leigh says: “He’s an inspiration and I’m very proud to be his daughter.”

She was born on August 10, 1970, in Kitchener, Ontario, and now lives in the province’s Cambridge with husband Jeff.

Competing in the China Games has been a long-term goal for Leigh, who earned her selection by posting Canada’s best World Cup result this season with a third place finish at the Montreal Road World Cup last month.

At 5ft 5in and weighing in at 120lb (8 stone 5lb) she counts climbing as her strength in cycle racing.

Leigh says her World Cup medal performance has given her a lot of confidence.

“That was certainly an empowering race for me and our team,” she said. “We really worked well to get back in contention for the medal. It really bodes well for us at the Olympics.”

Leigh is a rider with the Cheerwine professional team, a North Carolina based team that competes in national and international bicycle races.

The team is considered the premier women’s professional cycling team in the US and competes in nearly 60 major metropolitan areas around the country each year.

Canadian national team coach Vincent Jourdain said: “The course in Beijing is going to be tough. But both our men’s and women’s team members have shown that they can climb with the best.”

Dad David will obviously be watching his daughter ride while taking a break from tending the garden, which Leigh describes as one of the loveliest.

He’s still in touch with Holme Valley Wheelers, which were founded in 1924 and are doing sterling work to promote the sport in and around Holmfirth.

The age range spans from 10 to 80-plus and includes a strong social scene as well as an active youth development programme.

It’s something which David has never forgotten, despite all his years away from Britain. He’s still in contact with the club’s Mark Wilcox.

Incidentally, he’s not the only connection that Holme Valley Wheelers will have with this year’s Olympics.

Former member Ed Clancy is aiming to bag a gold medal for Britain on the track in the team pursuit.