Forming links with the local authority and schools is vital for a club if it's to grow and develop. Last month, we visited Hafren Cycling Club's first ever inter-school grass track competition at Newtown High School to witness the positive outcome of good partnership work between Powys Sports Development and Hafren Cycling Club.

Paul Bufton who is a level 2 coach at Hafren CC explains how the idea came about: 'Kate Preston from Powys Sports Development came across an article on the British Cycling website about an inter school cycling event. She approached the club and asked if we were interested in helping with running something similar in the Newtown area.' 

Each school were invited to bring a team of 8 - 2 girls and 2 boys from both year 5 and year 6. On the day, an oval was marked out on the playing field of the local high school and the children split into 2 year groups. The children took part in various track-style events including sprint, elimination and keirin and battled for points for their school team.

With 3 schools accepting the invite to take part and all the staff expressing how great it was to see children enjoying the challenges, the organisers are now looking ahead to 2017 where more schools are expected to take part and the event becoming a permanent fixture in the school sports calendar.

School staff were made aware of the Cycling for Schools course that would enable them to run similar activities and set up a school club which would in turn enable them to give more children the opportunity to cycle.

The event was deemed a great success by participants, schools and organisers and proves how linking in with other partners can create a pathway from school through to community clubs.

If you are a school or a club wishing to run a similar event, please get in touch with the development team at Welsh Cycling.

Hafren Cycling Club were 2016 Go Ride Club of the Year runners up at the Welsh Cycling awards on Saturday 29 October.