July 6, 2005 – After 25 years, women racers at Vancouver’s legendary Tour de Gastown finally have a trophy to call their own following the unveiling of a new women’s trophy at Storyeum by Vancouver Deputy Mayor
Jim Green.

The new trophy, a gift from the City of Vancouver was designed by Gastown
designer Ross MacMillan of Industrial Artifacts. It was ridden from City
Hall to Gastown by a group of riders that was led by Vancouver City
Councillors Raymond Louie (a former racer), Peter Ladner, Ellen Woodsworth,
as well as Gastown Women’s Champions Verna Buhler (1981,82,83), Sara Neil
(1990) and Alison Sydor (1991). The City of Vancouver Women’s Trophy will be presented for the first time at the 2005 Tour de Gastown (July 20) by Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell, who officially proclaimed July 20, Tour de Gastown Day in Vancouver.
“Gastown would like to thank Mayor Campbell, as well as council and city
staff, for their tremendous support of our race,” said Race Chair Scott
Hawthorn. “Thanks to them we’re able to bring top level bike racing to the
heart of the city and show crowds of 30,000 plus just how exciting this
sport really is.”

Deputy Mayor Jim Green echoed the sentiments of everyone in attendance in
remarking how overdue this trophy was.

“We’re pleased to finally help recognize the great women riders that have
won in Gastown,” said Green. “For years, male riders have been coming to
Gastown to try and put their name next to Lance Armstrong’s on the men’s
trophy, now women riders have a chance to add their names next to the
inspiring women riders that have won here like Verna Buhler, who won three
times, the incredible Sara Neil and our three-time world champion Alison
Sydor. I look forward to seeing everyone back in Gastown on July 20.”
The Tour de Gastown (July 20) is part of BC Superweek, which includes the
Tour de Delta (July 15-17) and the Tour de White Rock (July 22-24) and
features North America’s top professional cyclists racing for $50,000 in
cash prizes.

The trophy, entitled “Forward”, was designed and built by Gastown’s own
Industrial Artifacts Inc. (Ross MacMillan and Johann Wieghardt) specifically for the winner of the women’s race of the Tour de Gastown. It was made using recycled wooden casting patterns (Red Cedar and Yellow Pine) reclaimed from two Vancouver machine shop/foundries (Progressive Engineering Works Ltd and Reliance Motor and Machine Works Ltd.) The female figure was carved by Wieghardt from a piece of old growth Yellow Cedar also reclaimed from the Progressive Engineering Works building, which was torn down last year. The trophy was designed to represent the determination and resiliency of the human spirit to overcome adversity and move forward to the future. Industrial Artifacts Inc. prides itself on being a “sustainable” company which designs and manufactures unique furniture and decor using a variety of recycled materials reclaimed from a variety of BC industries. A “First-life” history is included with each design so as to preserve the origin of each of the artifacts used.

PAST GASTOWN WOMEN CHAMPIONS:

2004 Manon Jutras, Drummondville, Que.
2003 Ina Teutenberg, Germany
2002 Kim Davidge, Burlington, ON
1993 Marianne Berglund, Sweden
1992 Laura Charameda, San Diego, CA
1991 Alison Sydor, North Vancouver, BC
1990 Sara Neil, Vancouver, BC
1988 Aine O’Hagen, BC
1987 Elizabeth Jansen, USA
1986 Becky Brindle, USA
1985 Peggy Maas, Colorado Springs, CO Texas Metros
1984 Doreen Smith, Delta, BC
1983 Verna Buhler, Winnipeg, MB
1982 Verna Buhler, Winnipeg, MB
1981 Verna Buhler, Winnipeg, MB