GRASSROOTS
around the country, which allowed very little time for individual development. The newly structured programme will allow young riders to develop bike skills and an all-round knowledge of BMX rac- ing on a British Cycling platform aimed at developing the very best BMX riders. Hayes’ programme includes a BMX
skills award badge system for riders at three different levels; beginner, in- termediate and expert. He says these progressive awards increase the riders’ skills base and allow regional coaches to “better evaluate riders’ progress, while allowing young people and their parents a proper guided pathway for their poten- tial progression to Talent Team and the Olympic Development Programme”.
Playground to podium British Cycling now offers people a chance to develop their basic cycling skills through its Go-Ride national develop- ment programme for schoolchildren and club members. Within these sessions, qualified Go-Ride coaches pass on their knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport through interactive activities, which de- velop bike riding skills and competition. Links are made with local Go-Ride
community clubs to help young people develop their skills across a network of more than 230 clubs around the country. Additionally, with support from principal partner Sky, British Cycling has launched Go-Ride Racing – a new youth entry level competition programme designed to bridge the gap between school/club coaching and open regional competi- tions. Talented riders are then nominated by their club to attend Regional Schools of Racing, which provide opportunities
British BMX World Champion Shanaze Reade will ride at the 2011 UEC European Championships in Birmingham
Above: An artist’s impression of the new indoor BMX centre in Manchester. Right: Building the Redditch BMX facility
for young people to link up with British Cycling Talent Team coaches. All Go-Ride coaches support BMX
through their activities in schools and community clubs. Former world cham- pions, Dylan Clayton and Sam Foakes, act as inspirational athletes for the sport, while a third Go-Ride coach has also been employed through the sport’s legacy plan – associated with the BMX World Championships. Organised by Brit- ish Cycling, UK Sport and Birmingham City Council, the event will be held at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham two months ahead of the Olympics. It is ex- pected to play a pivotal long-term role in taking the BMX discipline to a new level of public interest.
Building for the future Birmingham’s Perry Park will soon boast a new international-standard outdoor BMX track and will welcome the world’s best riders for the 2011 UEC European Champi- onships in June this year – where a young audience will be inspired by the likes of BMX World Champions Shanaze Reade. The track in Perry Park will be the new
home of Birmingham BMX club, while a new BMX facility has also recently opened in nearby Redditch, where it’s hoped BMX racing will continue to in- spire youngsters for generations to come. Birmingham’s new tracks are just two of
British Cycling’s most recent investments into cycling facilities. Previously BMX tracks had become unsustainable, due to a lack of funding and investment from lo- cal authorities. It wasn’t until the inclusion of BMX as an Olympic sport that these authorities realised current infrastructure would not deal with the sport’s growth in popularity and investment was needed to ensure the sport moved forward. Since then, British Cycling has invested its capital funding to establish a network
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of national tracks, each requiring funding of up to £450,000 – to provide facilities that include fences, floodlights and club- houses etc. Assistance has also been given to clubs which put a sustainable business plan in place to enable communities and future cycling stars to use the facility for generations to come. The first facility of this model was Platt
Fields in Manchester. Opened in June 2008, in conjunction with Manchester City Council, Platt Fields is now used regularly by the local community and for training purposes by the GB Cycling Team. It’s also used to host regional and nation- al events throughout the BMX calendar.
Indoor BMX centre Funded in conjunction with Sport Eng- land and Manchester City Council, British Cycling’s biggest facility investment is the £25m indoor BMX centre in Manchester – the first purpose built arena of its kind in the world. Due for completion in August 2011, the venue will be capable of hold- ing major events while catering for the local community and providing a base for GB riders in their preparations for Lon- don 2012 and future Olympic Games. Located adjacent to the successful
Manchester Velodrome, which has al- ready earned a worldwide reputation for hosting major events and providing op- portunities for people to get involved in the sport, it’s hoped that this new BMX venue will enjoy the same success. ●
Issue 2 2011 © cybertrek 2011
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