A Holme Valley butcher is sponsoring a talented young cyclist who is on the road to success.
Brindon Addy, who has his shop at Hade Edge, is supporting 18-year-old Gabriel Cullaigh, of New Mill, as he sets his sights on a career in professional cycling – including the 2020 Olympics and a future Tour de France.
Gabz Cullaigh is already well-known in his age group in cycling as an endurance specialist who also rides on the track and time trials.
Gabz has been racing competitively for the past five years.
In the past three years, he has been under-16 Yorkshire Champion, National Road Champion, National Road Series Champion and last year got silver in the National Junior Road Championships.
He was invited to join the British Cycling Talent Team, which is the first phase of the Olympic Programme, and for the last two years as an under-18 has been a member of the Olympic Development Programme, which is the second phase.
In September, he is set to apply for the third stage, the Olympic Academy, a three-year phase that prepares athletes for the Olympic Podium Programme, the pinnacle of the performance pathway.
Gabz has represented his country in races at home and abroad, including the classic Paris-Roubaix and Nations Cup in Croatia and the Czech Republic.
Three years ago, Gabz was headhunted by the RST Racing Team in South Normanton, Derbyshire, which was founded by ex-professional cyclist Chris Walker,
Gabz was educated at Holmfirth High School, where his tutor Tim Stringer, an avid cyclist, also proved an excellent role model.
Gabz has now completed a BTEC Diploma in Sports Science at Huddersfield New College.
He was also a keen cricketer with Thongsbridge Junior Cricket Club and made the Yorkshire trials.
Gabz’ father, John, a regular customer at J Brindon Addy Butchers, thanked the shop for supporting Gabz. He said: “We are really grateful. While he is sponsored by RST, he has raced abroad off his own back, which can be a costly business, so every little bit helps. R A Berry Builders in Holmfirth have come on board and we are hoping to get other local sponsors.”
Brindon said: “We are happy to support Gabz. He is a young man going places in the world of professional cycling – and we would like to think that our meat has helped beef him up for the long road ahead!”
Mr Addy is national chairman of the Butchers Q Guild, which represents more than 100 elite butchers from the Scottish Highlands to the south coast.
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