The Dave Rayner Fund been set up in memory of the late Dave Rayner, to assist ambitious riders (like Dave), to make a successful career from cycle racing on the continent of Europe.
David was born in Shipley, son of John and Barbara. John was a first category racing man in the 1960's part of the well known 'Rayner' cycling family.
David's first club was the East Bradford CC which he joined in 1979 as a 12 year old. He went on to join the Bradford Wheelers in 1984, and won the National Junior RR Champs at Stoke on Trent.
His development progressed further when he went to Italy at the beginning of 1984 and rode for the G.S.Porcari-Fanini-Berti Team. He was riding with the likes of Mario Cipollini and Andrea Tafi and remained there until the end of 1986. In 1985 Dave came 14th in the Junior World Road Race Champs and 5th in the World Junior Team Time Trial Champs at Stuttgart.
In 1987 Dave won the under 22 award in the Milk Race and then turned pro for the Interent-Yugo Team in Britain. In 1988 he joined the Raleigh-Banana Team, won the under 22 award again in the Milk Race and came 8th overall.
1989 Raleigh-Banana again, 8th overall again in the Milk Race and for the 3rd year running [a record] he won the under 22 award again. He joined the Banana-Falcon Team in 1990 and in that year won the Scottish Provident Criterium Series overall.
In 1991/2 he went to Holland and rode for the Buckler Team under former World Champion Jan Raas. He went to the USA for 1993 joining the I.M.E.-Health Share Team which was not very successful so for 1994,his final season he came back to Britain and joined the Lex-Townsend Team, coming 2nd in the National Criterium Champs in Milford Haven.
Following the successful involvement with the Junior Tour of Ireland over the last two years, the Dave Rayner Fund are looking to expand for 2008 by forming junior teams to participate in some continental races.
There have been a number of encouraging meetings with British Cycling with a view to liaise over the International calendar so that the Fund can give an opportunity to some juniors where BC are unable to send teams due other commitments.
The Fund hope to have the opportunity to extend the arrangement to include representation at Under 23 level and give a more hands on approach for riders to benefit from the considerable experience the Fund Committee have to offer.
These additional measures are of course dependent on continued support at least to the level the Fund currently enjoy.
The main sources of income presently are the Dinner,the Etape du Dales and Fun Ride with our President Brian Robinson,as well as numerous donations particularly the fantastic contribution the Fund receives from the Fred Whitton Challenge.
In the meantime the Fund are continuing to support individual riders hoping to make their name on the Continent with various teams abroad in 2008 following the success of Dan Martin last year who of course has found a place in the Slipstream team,and these are:-
| Tobyn Horton | Adam Biggs | Andrew Griffiths | Dominic Schills |
| Richard Heathcote | Ian Legg | Steve Lampier | Dan Shand |
| Dan Davies | Adam Illingworth | Tom Walters | Sam Webster |
| Tom Murray | Adam Norris | Nicki Harris (F) | Matt Brammeier |
The Fund have also offered 3 month placings to the following should they wish to take them up at the end of their respective studies,and these are:-
| Steve Guymer |
| Peter Williams |
| Alex Wise |
Unfortunately the committee had to turn down 28 applicants which is always disappointing but the number of applications received is very encouraging for the future.
Keith Lambert
For more information, please visit http://www.daveraynerfund.com