Sport The Business of Sport


Velo rider to tackle course on Brompton bike


For many of the 15,000 Vélo Birmingham participants, the 100- mile closed-road cycle sportive provides the perfect excuse to splash out on that new bike. With the latest road bikes


offering all the speed, efficiency and comfort cyclists could ask for, spare a thought for retired business manager Richard Banks, who will be tackling the inaugural challenge on his Brompton folding commuter bike.


Richard, who was born in Kent


but now lives in Oswestry, Shropshire, is taking on Vélo Birmingham on his Brompton to raise funds for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity. Vélo Birmingham, which takes


place on Sunday 24 September, sold out its 15,000 places inside four days last September. A small number of individual


places are still available through lead charity partners. Companies can also enter teams through the Business 100 challenge, which offers a VIP experience coupled with exclusive training events and networking opportunities – but places are limited. The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is a partner to the Vélo Birmingham Business 100. Richard, who will be 51 at the


time of the race, has never taken part in a closed-road cycle before, and hopes to do so on his Brompton bike to attract more interest for his fundraising efforts.


‘The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce is a partner to the Vélo Birmingham Business 100’


Boxing clever: Kal Yafai at the school games


Boxing brothers inspire pupils


WBA boxing champion Kal Yafai and his brothers Gamal and Galal were special guests at the Birmingham School Games. The event, which aims to


build on the legacy of London 2012 and Rio 2016, is aimed at local schoolchildren, and gives them the opportunity to experience a large scale multi- sport event. More than 1,000 young


people took part in the event, which was organised by Sport Birmingham and held at King Edwards School and King Edward VI School for Girls. Galal said: “It’s been great


On his bike: Richard Banks


He said: “Undertaking the race


on a folding bike might garner some interest and lead to increased sponsorship and greater benefits for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. “The greater the pain, the larger


the likely donations, was my reasoning!”


Vélo Birmingham is the flagship


event of the Birmingham Cycle Revolution. Well over £1m is expected to be raised for charity by Vélo Birmingham entrants and it is hoped the Business 100 challenge will raise over £100,000 for good causes across the Midlands.


to be here and build these kids’ confidence in sport.” Sport Birmingham CEO Mike


Chamberlain said: “They’ve been a real hit both in both the Winter and Summer School Games Festivals. It’s fantastic this band of brothers have chosen to give back so early in their careers by inspiring Birmingham’s talented young athletes.”


Brum limbers up for first marathon


The first Birmingham International Marathon has filled all general entry places after an overwhelming response from runners across the UK and beyond. The 26.2-mile event takes place on Sunday 15 October and will


be the second event of the newly-formed Great Run British Marathon Series. More than 9,000 people have signed up for individual entry


places. A limited number of charity places are still available. Runners who missed out are encouraged to sign up for the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half marathon, which takes place on the same day as the marathon. All Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run participants will have


access to a guaranteed entry window to the 2018 Birmingham International Marathon. Starting at the famous Alexander Stadium, the home of British


Athletics, the course will take in a number of the city’s most iconic landmarks before finishing in the city centre.


Two honorary Brummies are making the staggering


10,000-mile round trip to take on the Birmingham International Marathon. It will take Chris and Kym Bailey (pictured) 16 hours to travel from the Caribbean. Chris, a former Hagley RC High School pupil, and Kym,


who went to Light Hall School in Shirley and Solihull Sixth Form College, have been living on Grand Cayman for almost six years. One of the world’s leading multi-marathon athletes is


on track to break a running record when he takes on the marathon. Steve Edwards, from Coventry, is aiming to break the world record for running 800 official marathon races in the fastest average finish time at the first-ever Birmingham International Marathon. The 54-year-old went into 2017 requiring another 39 marathons averaging times below three hours and 20 minutes to achieve the world record and he’s on target for his incredible feat.


September 2017 CHAMBERLINK 61


Sector Focus


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