Kettering round of the Halfords Tour Series 2010 is launched
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Story posted May 14, 2010; from Kettering Borough Council
Over 100 invited guests joined Kettering Borough Council in celebrating the official launch of round six of the Halfords Tour Series 2010 in Kettering’s Alfred East Art Gallery. Cycling team, www.cyclepremier.com - Metaltek racing team is one of the ten teams selected to compete in the series and were at the launch to provide a real life experience of the thrill of the race.
Among them was World and Commonwealth Games medallist Tony Gibb who answered questions about his racing experiences and talked openly with the VIPs and local school children from St Mary’s Primary School and the Grange Primary Schools.
They were most interested in medals and crashing! The Mayor of the Borough of Kettering, Councillor Ruth Groome welcomed the tour to Kettering and expressed her anticipation for the excitement of the race and the community events that would precede it. She said, “I am delighted that we have been able to attract such an incredible race to Kettering. British Cycling used to be based in a building on Rockingham Road in the town, the building is still called Federation House so in a way it is like cycling is coming home.”
In addition to Kettering Borough Council, the sponsors for the Kettering round of the Halfords Tour Series include Northamptonshire NHS, the East Midlands Development Agency, Northamptonshire County Council and North Northamptonshire Development Company. They were delighted to welcome the team and the tour to Kettering. In a short address they each expressed their hopes for the tour and the opportunities that this will offer to local people and businesses to get involved and get on their bikes.
Speaking at the launch the Chief Executive of Northamptonshire NHS John Parkes said, "The choices we make as individuals, and particularly those around health and exercise, play an important part in defining our quality of life. NHS Northamptonshire is proud to be a partner in the event, bringing such a prestigious cycling event to the people of Kettering. We want to support people to make positive changes around fitness, exercise and healthy eating, something that cycling encapsulates".
Kettering Borough Council provided two Wattbikes for the event. These state of the art training bikes provide training athletes with vital information about their training as well as providing a great opportunity for local school children to have a go at racing the professionals. The visit to Kettering clearly inspired the www.cyclepremier.com – Metaltek racing team. After leaving the launch they headed straight to race at Mallory Park in Leicestershire where members of the team came an impressive 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th.
Kettering Borough Council is looking for volunteers and additional sponsorship for the event on 10th June. If you are interested in either opportunity please contact Michael Cowland on 01536 534266 or michaelcowland@kettering.gov.uk
