Five Counties Converge On Central Activity Programme

 

News Posted 5th November 2008

 

The Wendover area was the location for Central Region’s 4-day Holiday Programme in the October Half Term.  The area was chosen for a variety of reasons, firstly because it is situated in the middle of Central Region and has good access from every direction.  Secondly it was chosen as there are a variety of different cycling facilities within a mile of each other. However, none of the facilities had been used for Go-Ride activities until now so there was a good deal of planning involved in putting the week together.

 

Day 1 and 3 focussed on Green Park Outdoor Education and Conference Centre, managed by Buckinghamshire County Council.  Green Park had been used back in 2002 as a residential Selection Camp for the Talent Programme involving Graham MacNamee as one of the coaches.  More recently in June this year it attracted a high turn out for the Activity Coach Award for Teachers resulting in the registration of 11 new Go-Ride School Clubs.

 

The turnout by the young people followed a similar response.  The first day attracted 25 youngsters ranging from 7 to 15 years-old.  Amazingly they came from 6 counties – Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.  Five Go-Ride clubs were represented – Hemel Hempstead CC, Palmer Park Velo, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, Maidenhead CC and Witney Mountain Bike Club, Jermey Mulkern, future coach for prospective Go-Ride club, Aylesbury CC, brought along his 7 year-old son. Those not yet in clubs had come as a result of flyers circulated in local schools by Chris German, lead coach at newly registered Amersham Road CC.  One lad had come following a recent successful inter-school competition in Watford. In the course of the week 42 different young people took part including 3 young volunteers.  Clare Muir, lead coach from another new Go-Ride registered club, Summit MTB based at Lotts Wood Amersham, was second coach for the week, whilst Paula Clarke a Witney MTB coach also stayed to assist.

 

Green Park benefits from an assortment of single track which is ideal for teaching a range of skills, along with a large open space for games and competition. Day 2 took place in Wendover Woods, managed by the Forestry Commission.  The woods contain a 6 mile very challenging cycle route where the skills of climbing and descending, braking and use of gears were definitely called for.

 

Day 3 brought an unexpected surprise – snow!  This didn’t deter anyone and fitted well with the option of a flat 10 mile ride along the Grand Union Canal to the Bluebell Tea Rooms at Marsworth where they warmed up with a drink of hot chocolate.

 

Our final day took us to Aston Hill, a specialist downhill mountain bike centre where resident volunteer coach Richard Abbott took the youngsters over some trails to focus on a range of technically more challenging skills such as riding over roots and handling downhill cornering.  The young people were thrilled by some superb demonstrations of downhill riding by some very experienced and enthusiastic elite young riders.

 

Feedback from the week has been nothing but positive!  All young people improved their fitness and each day saw a big increase in individual level of skills.  The week saw everyone making new friends and really enjoying themselves. Surprisingly, one of the most enthusiastic sessions was cleaning bikes at the end of the day because the young riders wanted to ensure their machine was in tip top condition for the following days riding.