Maindy Mini League

May 2007

Report & Pics Mike Anstice

It was glorious evening in the warm sunshine at Maindy Pool & Track. There was plenty of shouting and cheering going on for all the children from Newport , Forest of Dean, Abergavenny and the surrounding area who had come over to join the local Cardiff riders.

The evenings programme is structured to offer an introduction to cycling as a sport, through fun racing that most would do everyday on their street or drive way with their mates. The kids ride ordinary road and mountainbikes wearing helmets and gloves, some in their football kit others more serious already members of cycling teams in their kit.

There were a mixture of races (60 & 200 metre sprints, handicap races, points with regrouping and an unknown distance scratch race). If they get the bug their fitness will increase as the weeks progress and all though they are only cycling 400 metre circles they will still cycle a few miles through the evening.

Alan raised a few pound for the club with a "Bring and Buy Sale" mainly selling off the older, now junior cyclists' kit including Katy Curtis' Welsh kit; should the fortunate buyer have it autographed and hung on the wall or wear it every day hoping to duplicate her success as she is now a GB rider; she too started her cycling at the age of 9 here at Maindy.

Points are accumulated over the series & at the end of the league national ranking points are awarded. The racing starts at 6.30 every Wednesday evening with signing in from 6.00pm if you have thrown away your stabilizers you can race!!