British Cycling’s East Midlands coach Steve Crosland believes the future of cycling in Newark is safe after helping to develop some of the town’s most promising youngsters.
Promising young cyclists at Newark include, left to right, Kian Baker, Nathan Priestley, Isabel Darvill, Callum Baker, Jade Blankley, and Rebecca Richards. (291211MW1-1)
Crosland has helped introduce the British Cycling and Team Sky Go Ride scheme to the area, which allows youngsters the chance to take up cycling by providing the venue, equipment and bike.
In addition, Newark Youth Trust gave £450 towards clothing.
Crosland has been working with Newark Castle Cycling Club to develop the club and cycling in the area from the bottom up, focussing on cyclists aged six to 16.
What he has seen so far has given him cause for optimism.
“The level of youngsters coming through at the club, who may well have only taken up the sport in the last year, is of a very good standard,” he said.
“We have lots of youngsters getting on a bike for the first time in this capacity and showing a huge amount of potential.
“I firmly believe some of the talent at the club can use fellow young East Midlands rider Lucy Garner as inspiration. She shows what can be achieved with dedication and hard work.”
Cycling in the UK has seen a major revival in the last few years, in no small part due to Great Britain’s success on and off the track at world and Olympic level.
Stars such as four-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic medalist Bradley Wiggins and World Road Race Champion Mark Cavendish — winner of the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year — have put the sport at the forefront of the nation’s consciousness, especially with London 2012 approaching.
More locally, 17-year-old Leicestershire rider Garner won the junior version of Cavendish’s title, having broken through the same ranks that many of Newark’s most gifted and talented may follow.
Hoping to follow in Garner’s footsteps are 14-year-old Grove School pupil Rebecca Richards, of Balderton, William Robertson School’s Callum Baker, 13, of Leadenham, Jade Blankley, 12, of the Grove School, Isabel Darvill and James Bedham, both 11, and of Chuter Ede primary, Nathan Priestley, 11, a pupil at the Magnus Church Of England School, and Kian Baker, 9, and Oliver James.
Crosland said success at the very highest level could only be sustained with a programme of building at grassroots level.
“What we are trying to do here at Newark needs to be done at clubs up and down the country,” he said.
“Cycling was a massive participation sport half a century ago but it has declined over the years.
“The problem was that as the cyclists got older the youngsters struggled to break through because they couldn’t keep up with the pace of the experienced pack of riders already established at a club.
“This caused the problem of young people falling by the wayside, who, with a bit of guidance and help, could have been a success.
“The aim of Go Ride is to bridge that gap. We give youngsters the chance to cut their teeth among their peers, giving them the chance to step up to senior and competition level when they have the confidence and strength to do so.”
Anyone who would like to get involved with cycling at Newark Cycling Club or would like to take part in the Go Ride scheme should contact Crosland at stevecrosland@british cycling.org.uk or for more information visit www.britishcycling.org.uk
