World and Paralympic champion Aileen McGlynn joins Royal Albert Cycling Club.

Jan 27 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

LARKHALL’S Royal Albert Cycling Club have their first world champion in 140 years after Paralympic gold medalist Aileen McGlynn signed up to become their latest member.

McGlynn (37), who is registered blind, won gold at the Paralympics in Athens in 2004 and at Beijing four years later, alongside tandem partner Ellen Hunter. The pair have also won gold at every World Championships since 2006.

Aileen, a former pupil of Uddingston Grammar, but who now lives in Glasgow, has been reunited with one of her long-standing training partners, Dennis White, at the 140-year-old club.

She will regularly participate in club rides as part of her training for the World Track Championships taking place in Italy in March, and the London Paralympic Games in 2012.

Aileen hopes the move will attract more women and young people to the sport, in the run up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“With a new velodrome in Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Sir Chris Hoy’s achievements, these are undeniably exciting times for cycling in Scotland,” she said.

“I hope I can encourage more young people to cycle – and who knows, we may produce more champions.”

Vincent Lunny, chairman of the Royal Albert Cycling Club, said: “It’s a tremendous honour to have a World and Paralympic champion join the Royal Albert.

“Aileen is the first world champion in our 140-year history and this is especially exciting as the club has been growing over the past few years.

“I’m certain that Aileen will give the club a higher profile and inspire current members to train harder.”