Baildon's Ella Curtis named in prestigious Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling list

Ella Curtis, 16, who has Down's Syndrome, has been recognised for her achievements, such as winning a bronze medal at this year's Special Olympics with Great Britain's cycling team.

She joins Rachael Maskell MP for York Central, Dame Sarah Storey, active travel commissioner for Sheffield City Region, Sophie Carter from North Yorkshire, Trish Cunnison and Mandy Parker from Leeds, Betty-Ann Hutchin and Janet Paske from Sheffield and Jenn Hill (awarded posthumously) on the list for their work encouraging women to cycle.

They join TV presenter Angellica Bell and triple Olympic medallist, Victoria Pendleton, in the cycling charity’s list recognition significant achievements in promoting women’s cycling.

It is estimated that only a million women in the UK cycle regularly.

The women have all been recognised in celebration of the amazing work they have done to inspire other women to cycle as part of Cycling Women’s Festival of Cycling which runs through July.

The awards were presented at a Parliamentary reception in Westminster earlier this month following a ride to the House of Commons by more than 150 women to raise awareness of women’s cycling.

The ride was led by Bell, who only started riding as an adult after being inspired by her step-father, and a chance to appear on a TV cycling challenge to ride a stage of the Tour de France.

Women’s Festival of Cycling takes place throughout July with events around the UK to encourage more women to cycle.

Curtis was part of a 128-strong Great Britain in Abu Dhabi competing across more than a dozen different sports in March this year.

She secured third spot and a medal in the event's 500m modified cycle time trial.

Her family were really into cycling and when she was younger, she would ride along next to them on a scooter because she didn’t want to miss out but she lacked the confidence to ride with them.

Then a few years ago, she joined the Bradford Disability Cycling Club.