In 2025 Malvern Cycle Sport offered a number of race bursaries to our young (<25 years) club members, with funding being used to assist with race entry fees and travel to races. The application process took place between end of 2024/start of 2025, and 7 bursaries of £250 each were awarded to club members for the April 2025-March 2026 membership year.
Our 2025 recipients have shared highlights of their race season and some of their favourite race photos from this year below – applications for our 2026 bursary scheme will be open from 15th November until 30th November. The scheme is open to all club members who renew membership for the April 2026-March 2027 membership year, and are <25 years old as of 1st April 2026.
Zac Crozier – XC:
This year marked my third season racing XC MTB, and it was a year full of progress, learning, and exciting results on some amazing courses across the UK. I’ve gained huge amounts of experience and confidence in both XCO and XCC racing.
Some of my standout results from the season include:
• 2nd place – Cannock Chase Winter Classic
• 5th place – Llangollen
• 5th place – Dare Valley Country Park
• 18th / 45 – XCC National Champs
• 27th / 45 – XCO National Champs
I really enjoyed the season — challenging myself, racing with brilliant riders, and representing the club at bigger events than ever before. I’m already putting in the work for next year: I now have a coach helping me take things to the next level, and there’s more exciting news to come soon!
Thanks to everyone who has supported me this year especially Malvern cycle sport by covering the costs of entries with the race bursary and a huge thanks to mum and dad for making everything possible along my journey! Bring on 2026! 
TOM HOBSON – CYCLOCROSS / GRAVEL:
This is the second year that MCS have supported me with the race bursary, primarily to race Cyclocross and Gravel events all across the UK and I have to say that it’s been a great one so far with 4 more events still to go.
Having gained crucial experience last year, this season has been the most successful so far with not only results but also a lot of fun on the bike along the way.
Some of this year’s highlight events include:
– 4th at my inaugural Battle On The Beach along the surprisingly sunny beaches in Pembrokeshire in March.
– 1st place junior Aerocoach Road Bike TT Championships.
– 1st Wild Boar Race along 80km of the hilliest off-road tracks the Wyre Valley has to offer.
– 1st Aerocoach Gravel Hillclimb (Hardest 7minutes of the year!)
– 4 x 3rd place Finishes at Cyclocross League races this year with hopefully some more in the remaining rounds.
I’m very happy with my results and range of events raced so far in 2025 with my eyes set on many more new and exciting races for 2026 and 4 more cyclocross events yet to race this year! Thanks to MCS for the continued support.
WILL MOSELEY – DOWNHILL:
The 2025 race season was full of highs but also with some lows. Thanks to the Malvern cycle sport bursary I was able to enter all the national and Pearce downhill series.
My favourite race was Fort William getting to experience a world cup track and I really enjoyed riding and learning the track ending in a 13th place finish which was a huge confidence boost after crashing at the first national leading to a dislocated finger and a bashed up elbow that caused issues throughout the season. I also loved the racing experience at Llangollen camping and spending the weekend with friends and lapping in practice together.
Overall my year of racing has gained me lots of experience and taught me many lessons that will make me a better rider. I want to thank Malvern Cycle Sport for the support over the season with race entries and coverage over travel costs and the opportunities they have provided me. Onto the winter season …
EDAN GURNSEY – ENDURO:
I started racing enduro events 5 years ago but this year has been particularly challenging as in some events I have moved into the Under 18 category and have had a few crashes along the way!
However, I have thoroughly enjoyed the race season, continued to see progression and have improved my skills and confidence throughout my riding.
* 11th QECP U18 Southern Enduro – This is the venue where it all began for me at the age of 10 and is a great grassroots series.
* 17th Llanfyllin U18 Welsh Enduro Series – Has some amazing stages and I can’t wait to race there again.
* 3rd Forest of Dean U16 Mini Enduro – Was a great fun local venue where my riding came together and I was able to put down some fast, clean runs.
* 4th Ard Rock U30 – My first time racing Ard Rock with some very different, long stages that required a high level of fitness. I am particularly proud of my result, coming 5th overall out of 268 riders.
* 13th Minehead U18 Southern Enduro BNES – Another challenging favourite annual event up against some very fast riders and it was a hugely enjoyable experience.
The MCS race bursary has been a key factor in enabling me to race over the last two years and I’d like to say a huge thanks for the support and I can’t wait for next season!
MALACHI CASHMORE – TRIATHLON:
This was my first season of professional Ironman triathlon racing, competing for big money against the best in the world…as I expected at the start of the year I did not make it big time, and I didn’t make much money 
but I did make gains in fitness and tactical knowledge which was the main goal.
Started the year at Challenge Salou in Spain for my first ever pro race, where I came 5th out of a few thousand competitors (+€400)
The day after I went to Japan to Guide a visually impaired Paralympian, Rhys Jones, in the World Triathlon Series there, followed by Uzbekistan for a World Cup. We placed 4th and 2nd in these two events.
I did my first Ironman Pro series event, after a great swim I decided to ‘pace myself’ which apparently isn’t a thing in pro racing. And ended up coming 23rd 
Then I went to Ireland to race the Irish half Ironman champs, where I got the course record and won. (+£400)
Followed by a trip to Hungary with to Guide Rhys in a World Triathlon Cup where we came 4th, another great result.
If you’re still reading, thanks
Challenge Sanremo in Italy Half Ironman – 11th – almost died on this dangerous bike descent
My final individual race of the year, Challenge Vieux Boucau in France. Had a great swim-bike coming in 5th and then died on the run 
Finished off my first pro season Guiding Rhys in Turkey, we came 7th on what was the triathlon equivalent to Paris Roubaix
I’ve added up all my race costs for this year – including travel to races, accommodation while at races and entry fees, not including any equipment, and it’s cost a total of £3,581 
Thank you very much to Malvern cycle sport for the bursary support, it has really helped so thank you 
Challenge Salou half Ironman – 5th
Japan World triathlon Series guiding Rhys – 4th
Uzbekistan World Triathlon Cup Guiding – 2nd
Ironman Swansea Pro series – 23rd
Hungary World Triathlon Cup Guiding -4th
Irish Half Ironman Champs – 1st + CR
Challenge Sanremo Half Ironman – 11th
Challenge Vieux Boucau Half Ironman – 20 something
Turkey European Triathlon Cup – 7th
OWEN HUME – XC:
This year was my first season racing in the junior category, and I want to thank MCS for their support throughout it. Their help made it possible for me to travel and race gaining valuable experience and competing at a national level. Having that support in my first junior season made a real difference in my development and confidence on the bike. Some of my most notable results being
-22nd place at Cannock chase nationals
-3rd place at Welsh xc round 1
Thanks again to Malvern cycle sport for their continued support and can’t wait to race again in 2026!
JACK BRISTOW – DOWNHILL / ENDURO:
I was lucky enough to be given one of the MCS bursaries for 2025, which helped towards my race fees and my fuel for my first season of national downhill and enduro races.
I chose to use my bursary across a combination of the national downhill series, the Welsh downhill series and the Welsh national enduro series. It was my first year of national downhill racing and at 18 my first year of racing in the senior men category.
Racing a national race at Fort William has always been on my bucket list and this was by far my favourite event of the season, even though I ended up with a mechanical issue on the actual race run. The weather for that whole weekend was brilliant! The best part of racing this year has been taking part with other MCS members and making a whole weekend out of it and setting up our ‘Malvern Camp’ and cheering each other on.
Ive learnt a lot from my racing this year and hope to build on this for next year. Hopefully I’ll be able to enter some local races for training over the winter and I’ll be riding for a couple of weeks in Spain in January (hoping to escape our winter weather).
Thanks to MCS for all the support. My races over this year that the bursary has helped with have included:
· 100% mini Downhill 10/20 Senior men
· National Downhill Series Fort William 15/15 Senior men 8/15 in qualifier so I was really annoyed with the mechanical on race run
· Llanfyllin Welsh Enduro R#3 9/21 Senior men
· National Downhill Series Llangollen 18/26 Senior men
· Welsh Champs Llangollen 6/13 Senior men
