LOCAL HERO CHRIS JONES

The North Cheshire Clarion youth organiser has raised both awareness and membership

- Vern Pitt

If you’ve ever wondered what the cast of Avengers Endgame facing off against that of the Hammer House of Horror films on cyclo-cross bikes would look like then you should have been at the North Cheshire Clarion Fancy Dress race in late October. There, kids from all over the region, not just those in the club, competed for a host of prizes in what must have been a bizarre sight to any casual passers-by.

Chris Jones, the man behind the event, smiles as he recalls it. “There were a lot of superheroes,” he says when we ask him what his favourite costume was. That race was, Jones tells us, emblematic of the club’s underlying philosophy of prioritising having a great time.

“Fun, friendship, fitness, those are the core values. It has got to be enjoyable. It’s not about championship jerseys or achievements. Everyone will achieve something at some level, it’s about recognising it and rewarding it,” says Jones, the passion evident in his voice.

The fancy dress race was just one in many events Jones has run as part of his role as club organiser for the Clarion’s youth section. It’s a job he’s done so well that we chose him as the recipient of our Local Hero Award for 2021 – no cape required.

The club has grown substantially since Jones got involved and eventually took over its running a handful of years ago.