Iceland Sponsors Welsh Track Attack
Track Attack Press Release
Story posted October 23
Track Attack is a development of the Community Cycling Development Programme which was created to give local community children aged between 7 and 15 the opportunity to experience track cycling at three key facilities across South Wales. With support from Welsh cycling star Geraint Thomas who returned to the Newport Velodrome to lend his voice to this great initiative, Track Attack Cymru looks set to be a huge success for young up and coming cyclists.
The project has been given a huge boost this year with well known high street brand name Iceland coming on board as the title sponsor. With the support of Iceland Track Attack can now realise its full potential by providing more equipment, facilities and coaches to reach more youngsters from local communities in Wales.
The Iceland sponsorship follows in the footsteps of DHL who, earlier this year made a significant investment in cycling youth development with the creation of the DHL Sprint School. The DHL Sprint School has been based at the Newport Velodrome since February and has proved a huge success providing track sprint training to young cyclists from across the country.
Impressed by the success of the Sprint School Andy Pritchard, Managing Director of Iceland said of the sponsorship: “Here at Iceland we have had a long relationship with DHL and when we saw the great work being achieved by Guy Elliott and DHL’s sponsorship of Sprint School in Newport we felt we could really help grow the youth development work DHL have pioneered. Our commitment to this project is for three years and we hope in that time to help as many young people to experience the thrill of track cycling as well as learn about living a healthier, fitter life.”
With the backing of Iceland Welsh Cycling will be able to make huge steps forward and build on their recent success. Barloworld professional Geraint Thomas (pictured above) is the perfect example of this success and emphasized the importance of projects like Track Attack in nurturing future talent and also increasing participation the sport, “I started cycling at Maindy Flyers in Cardiff after seeing an advert for the club. I did really well and was instantly hooked and now I’m riding in races like the Tour de France. The Track Attack Project will help make cycling more accessible for kids in Wales which is fantastic. It’s great that the project has received the backing of Iceland and with this support Welsh Cycling will be able to help riders develop at various levels.”
Track Attack Cymru - Overview
Track Attack Cymru is a development of the Community Cycling Development Programme. The Programme was primarily created to give local community children (7-15 years) the opportunity to experience the specialist cycling discipline of Track riding at three key facilities across South Wales. The facilities are the outdoor cycle tracks in Carmarthen and Cardiff, plus Wales National (Indoor) Velodrome in Newport.
The initiative was designed to remove all the obstacles to youths trying the sport of track cycling, plus it has created a structured programme of cycling activities which takes youngsters from their initial experience of cycling through to a level competent enough to join a local club. Each of the identified facilities hosts a local ‘Go-Ride’ cycling club (Go-Ride being the governing body’s endorsement of child-safe clubs with trained coaches and Child Welfare Officers.)
The programme also aims to establish a Youth Exchange Programme, by holding an annual Inter Club competition at each of the three facilities, introducing participants to traveling and supporting events away from their own areas, giving new experiences and skills thus enhancing their own personal development.
Since its inception, the programme has logged over 350 children from the community groups, schools, other sports clubs and holiday sessions enjoy taster sessions at the facilities, with many returning for after schools courses and further holiday sessions.
A number of these riders are now joining more regular sessions at the facilities and will experience their first competitive events during 2007. With the support of Iceland the programme will be able to cater for considerably more youngsters through the provision of equipment and training of key volunteers.
As the programme and facilities develop, it is hoped to further expand the programme across all of the facilities in Wales, including the BMX Track at Bryn Bach Park, and potential facilities in North Wales.
The long term aim of the Community Development Programme is to identify and nurture the Welsh and Great
Britain Cycling Team representatives of the future through a unique opportunity offered to all young members of the community.