International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year. Worldwide, slow gains are being made when it comes to increased media coverage of women’s sporting events, the securing of bigger sponsorship for women’s teams and tournaments, more equal pay for women in sport, better support and greater respect overall. It’s time to place a lot more value on women’s sporting contributions and participation. And it’s time to celebrate the people, teams, communities and media who actively choose to support, cover and feature women’s sport.
As someone who has inspired lots of women to give downhill a go today felt like the perfect time to announce we’re supporting Amanda Tanfield and her Ladies Do Downhill events in 2019.
Amanda set up her Facebook group for female downhill riders ‘Ladies do DH’ in 2017 with the sole aim of encouraging more ladies into riding and racing. The group now has over 800 members. The Ladies do DH group meets around once a month, mostly at the Forest of Dean but also more recently with uplift days at Pearce Cycles locations.
In 2018 Amanda organised a ladies only downhill race at the Forest of Dean. When entries went live the numbers crept up slowly, women started sharing the event, guys joined in sharing it and encouraging female friends to enter and on race day 81 women had entered the race. This year Amanda plans to run two races of which we’ll be a category sponsor.
Amanda is one of the friendliest, welcoming and supportive riders out there and recently became a qualified British Cycling Mountain Bike coach. Here’s her ‘wee bio’
“I have been mountain biking for 5 years and doing downhill for 3. I have raced at the Forest of Dean, Steal City, The Malvern’s and Pearce. This year I plan to race some of the Nationals. I keep fit by going to the gym in the week and every weekend you can find me out on one of my bikes. I started Ladies do DH 2 years ago when I began getting a group of ladies together each month. When we get together we session a trail from top to bottom in the morning and then in the afternoon we will ride some other trails.
I ran my first race for women only last year and plan to run two this year. Once a month I also coach for Pedalabikeaway at The Forest of Dean. My favourite thing to do on my bike is to try new things. I am my happiest when I’m on my bike.”
You can follow Ladies Do DH and join one of their rideshttps://www.instagram.com/ladiesdodh
Get 10% off your next order at Flow MTB using Amanda’s discount code ladiesdodh at checkout
Photos Katrina Bartlett Media https://www.katrinabartlett.co.uk
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