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Tour of Britain stage winner receives trophy designed by Nottinghamshire schoolgirl

A jubilant schoolgirl from East Leake has told of her excitement at seeing the winning cyclist of the Nottinghamshire stage of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain race receive his winner’s trophy designed by her.

Robyn Thurgood, 10, who attends Costock C of E Primary School, won Nottinghamshire County Council’s design the winning trophy competition, which was developed in partnership with its partners Arc Partnership and SCAPE.

She was invited to join the presentation ceremony in Mansfield to watch stage five winner, Belgian rider Jordi Meeus, of the BORA – Hansgrohe team, receive the trophy she had designed.

Delighted Robyn said: “I was nervous and happy when I went on stage for the presentation.

“It’s been very exciting. It’s been one of the best days of my life – you don’t get to do something like this every single day!  

“I have never won anything like this. So, I was really excited and shocked when I found out I had won because I didn’t think I would win.”

Her proud mum Heather thanked her school for letting Robyn have the day off to attend the race’s finish and spoke of her pride at seeing her daughter on stage for the presentation.

She said: “I was amazed when we found out she had won because I had forgotten she had entered! I was at work when I got the phone call - it took me completely by surprise.

“It was very exciting to go home and tell Robyn that she’d won the competition.  

“It’s been a really good day and it’s definitely a day to remember. I don’t think we’ll ever forget it. It’s probably Robyn’s most exciting day of her life.”

The 116-mile Nottinghamshire stage, from West Bridgford to Mansfield, proved to be the final leg of the Tour after organisers cancelled the remaining three stages of the race following the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

Councillor John Cottee, the county councillor’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “What a fantastic experience for Robyn to be on stage when the winning trophy was presented to the winner. I can’t imagine how proud her mum must have felt watching on during the presentation ceremony.

“It will be a day they will never forget, and I would like to congratulate Robyn on winning the competition – something she thoroughly deserved.

“I would like to thank all the schools for their hard work in helping the pupils to submit their entries – we have some extremely talented youngsters here in Nottinghamshire who are a credit to themselves and their families.”

Robyn also won a replica of the trophy she designed, as well as VIP tickets to the finish of the race and a family adventure golf ticket at Rufford Abbey.

ENDS