QTS Sponsor Ayr Burners

One of the UK’s leading railway contracting businesses, the QTS Group, has sponsored Ayrshire’s newest cycling group Ayr Burners Cycling.

Ayr Burners aim to provide a home for recreational riders looking to enjoy their cycling without the pressure of racing and welcomes cyclists of all ages. The group is committed to developing youth cycling and introducing riders to the worlds of sportives, cyclocross and all round cycling adventures.

Support for Ayr Burners is the latest commitment by QTS to community sport in our area, with the company sponsoring Kilmarnock FC from youth level through to the first team, as well as Kilmarnock Rugby Club and a number of other local Ayrshire grassroots sporting organisations.

Since the first Burners ride on Ne’erday, the club has grown to 82 members’ including 21 youths and 24 females members.  Members have enjoyed a number of group rides so far including adventure cross rides in the Ayrshire Alps and the Southern Upland Way. There have also been specific women’s club runs and three cyclocross skills sessions. There is even a balance bike session coming up on 3 May for 2-4-year-olds in Belleisle Park.

The group’s eight week multi-discipline ABC summer series of Thursday night events starts on 14 May with the Barnweil Monument GP. Other events planned for the summer include a cycling quiz at the Savoy Park hotel and a Five Ferries ride.

Thanks to the support of QTS, a new addition to the Ayrshire cycling scene will be Ayr Burners members riding our roads in the stand out orange and black colours of the company created by designer Alec Macfarlane, also responsible for the kit for professional cycling team Orica Green Edge.

Based in Drumclog near Strathaven in Lanarkshire, QTS Group employs nearly 200 staff with a further 800 sub-contractors working on projects across the UK including rail, transport, utilities and private construction sectors throughout the UK.

Alan McLeish, managing director and founder, commented: “We are delighted to be supporting Ayr Burners Cycling and as a new cyclist myself I’m really excited by the plans the club has to promote the sport to enthusiasts like me in a very relaxed and non-intimidating way.

“QTS is fully committed to developing new talent in our business, so we are fully behind the Burners aim of developing youth cycling. In fact I was out with a few of the guys and was really impressed by the cycling skills of the youths I met.

“I’m looking forward to playing my part as a member of the Burners and seeing the club flourish in the months ahead.”

Christopher Johnson, chair of Ayr Burners Cycling said: “The support of Alan and QTS has been invaluable in giving Ayr Burners the best possible start, helping us to order up first class kit and equipment to support local events and encourage more cyclists.

“I can’t wait to see our members – young and older, experienced and novice – riding around our great Ayrshire roads and trails in our very distinctive orange and black kit.

“Any cyclists who would like to take part in our rides and events are all very welcome and should go to our website www.ayrburners.org for more information.”

Pictured, Barry McLeish, Operations Director stated:

“We are proud to support local sport and help local kids get involved in community led sporting initiatives. Its great to see the passion in the younger athletes in every sporting discipline we invest in.”

In addition to promoting recreational and youth cycling, Ayr Burners also coordinate the development of the Ayrshire Alps Cycle Park project, managing the website and exploring development opportunities.

QTS are also proud supporters of Loudoun Academy Cycling Team, who are due to embark on their next annual challenge, tackling the east coast of Scotland, taking in Galashiels, Berwick on Tweed, North Berwick, Edinburgh then back home.

Cycling is just one of the sports supported by QTS, with invested in young emerging athletes in skiing, snowboarding, tennis, golf and rallying.