Will Wright (cyclist)
Encyclopedia
Will Wright is a Welsh
racing cyclist, he has twice represented Wales
in the Commonwealth Games
, and is also the proprietor of the Stockport
based cycle retailer.
Will began cycling in his early teens, joining 'Manchester Velo' on their weekly club runs each Sunday, but only once he had completed his paper round. The nickname given to him then was Willie Feet due to his unusually large feet.
After finishing his secondary education, Will went to work for 'Marple Cyclesport'. Having gained some success whilst racing, Wright was selected to represent Wales
at the Commonwealth Games
in Victoria
, Canada
in 1994. It was there at the Games that Wright rode his first track competition, having never before ridden the track. He competed in the Games once more, closer to home in Manchester
in 2002, but unfortunately fell during the men's points race final after hitting a fallen rider; footage of which can be seen on the BBC Motion Gallery.
Will took over 'Bardsley Cycles' at 482 Manchester Road, Stockport
, Manchester
in the 1990s, which was subsequently renamed 'Will's Wheels' which also sponsors it's eponymous cycling club, 'Will's Wheels Cycling Club'. As well the cycling club, Will's Wheels supports local cycle races by providing prizes which Wright himself has been known to present
Will retired from competitive cycling to spend time with daughters Emily and Megan, and wife Sarah.
2002
2005
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
racing cyclist, he has twice represented Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, and is also the proprietor of the Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
based cycle retailer.
Will began cycling in his early teens, joining 'Manchester Velo' on their weekly club runs each Sunday, but only once he had completed his paper round. The nickname given to him then was Willie Feet due to his unusually large feet.
After finishing his secondary education, Will went to work for 'Marple Cyclesport'. Having gained some success whilst racing, Wright was selected to represent Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
at the Commonwealth Games
1994 Commonwealth Games
The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1994. It was there at the Games that Wright rode his first track competition, having never before ridden the track. He competed in the Games once more, closer to home in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 2002, but unfortunately fell during the men's points race final after hitting a fallen rider; footage of which can be seen on the BBC Motion Gallery.
Will took over 'Bardsley Cycles' at 482 Manchester Road, Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in the 1990s, which was subsequently renamed 'Will's Wheels' which also sponsors it's eponymous cycling club, 'Will's Wheels Cycling Club'. As well the cycling club, Will's Wheels supports local cycle races by providing prizes which Wright himself has been known to present
Will retired from competitive cycling to spend time with daughters Emily and Megan, and wife Sarah.
Palmarés
1996- 3rd Stage 1, Thwaites Grand Prix/Tour of Lancashire
2002
- 4th Team Pursuit, 4m25.029, Commonwealth Games2002 Commonwealth GamesThe 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
(with Paul SheppardPaul SheppardPaul Sheppard , is a Welsh racing cyclist. He represented Wales at 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur where he came fourth in the Team Pursuit, he repeated this performance at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester....
, Huw PritchardHuw PritchardHuw Pritchard , is a Welsh racing cyclist. He represented Wales at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, and again in Manchester in the 2002 Commonwealth Games, where he won the silver medal in the 20 km scratch, the first Welshman to win a medal on the track at the...
& Joby Ingram-DoddJoby Ingram-DoddJoby Ingram-Dodd , is a former Welsh racing cyclist. He represented Wales at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. He has now moved on to become an actor, writer and producer...
)
2005
- 2nd Welsh National Road Race Championships