Etches, 50, is the Chair of the British Cycling Yorkshire regional board and has acted as commissaire at races up and down the country.
Accepting the award in Manchester, Etches was honoured to be recognised for all his hard work in 2025, able to rub shoulders with the sport’s elite and talk to other’s about his own success.
“There’s a huge community out there of commissaires and to be like the official of the year is quite flattering and humbling really,” he said.
“There are loads of us who put work in, week in, week out, and are dedicated to the sport and I’m just one of many who do that and it is flattering to be awarded.”
The Yorkshireman is a crucial part of Britain’s cycling community, working as a National Road Commissaire and National Series Organiser.
Etches takes pride in the helping other volunteers succeed, and hopes he can help grow British Cycling from the ground up as much as possible.
He said: “I like to pass the knowledge on, it’s not like a closed shop where I’d say ‘oh I don’t want anyone else to know that’ because for me if there’s more commissaires, more people out there, it frees up my time when I can ride my own bike.
“I’m a people person and it’s nice to spread that knowledge and inspire others to get involved and make the sport better because the more I get involved the better the sport is, and without the volunteers the sport doesn’t even exist.”
The 50-year-old is committed to making the sport better for both officials, and the athletes racing.
Etches has gone above and beyond having put on virtual sessions to build a community of commissaires which ensures consistency in officiating across the country.
“There’s not much of an agenda, but we just share best practice,” he explained.
“I’ve had a lot of other commissaires now within the road community emailing me contact me.
“The riders expect consistency, whatever level that may be at. If you raced one week and got away with something, then the following week you get penalised, they say, ‘nobody’s picked up on it all year’.
“So, what we’re trying to do is get all the commissaires to work in a similar way across the whole nation.”
Could you develop your skills, meet new people and bring huge impact to your local community through volunteering? Get involved with British Cycling volunteering opportunities at https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/volunteering
