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Youth activities at Tour DoonHame a major success

Posted: 18 May 2011
Updated: 20 May 2011

Organisers of the Tour DoonHame and local clubs joined forces to really promote cycle sport in South West Scotland over the Easter weekend at the Tour of DoonHame stage race.

The organisers of the event worked in close partnership with the Scottish Cycling regional development team, local clubs and the local council to ensure the most was made of the top quality race coming to the area.

The race provides the spectacle for hundreds of locals and this year a big effort was made to ensure that the locals had the chance to try some cycling with the local clubs on the day and find out how to get involved in the sport.

Regional Development Officer Alan Denman said ‘It's important that everyone involved in cycle sport makes the most of opportunities like this. To often the big races come into an area and then just pack up and leave without really offering anything to the locals.

This year we wanted to make sure that the local people really benefitted from the event and were given the opportunities to get involved.'

The event organising team distributed 5,000 information flyers in partnership with the local council to ensure as many people as possible new about the event.

A youth circuit race was organised by Stepping Stanes youth development club in Dumfries at the finish line on stage 2 in the centre of Dumfries. The racing attracted lots of interest from members of the public with a large stash of club information flyers being handed out. The club has since reported gaining three new members from the day.

Stepping Stanes currently run Thursday evening coaching sessions covering road and off road skills and Saturday morning family MTB rides every other Saturday.

For more information contact lead coach Toni McCartney at macartneyt@yahoo.co.uk

A go-ride come and try it skills day was held at the finish line at stage 3 in Castle Douglas by the Hardrock CC. Hardrock CC has recently signed up to the go-ride scheme and getting everything in place to become accredited.

The club organised a ride to take people out on the route of the DoonHame race to the best local vantage points, with local cycling guru Steve Martin offering in depth knowledge into the technicalities of the racing.

The ride then finished at the stage finish in time to help with the running of the go-ride skills come and try it being run in partnership with Scottish Cycling. At least 50 children took part in the activities and the club have reported a big interest from people wanting to take part in more club activities.

The club currently run Tuesday evening road coaching sessions, Wednesday evening MTB coaching sessions, Saturday morning road training sessions and a family road ride on Sunday mornings.
For more information on the club contact Melanie Martin melaniemartin@hotmail.co.uk

For more information on Cycle Sport in South West Scotland please contact Scottish Cycling's Regional Development Coach Alan Denman alan.denman@scottishcycling.org.uk

Photo: stage stage circuit race winners getting their presentation on the British Cycling podium

Photo: Hardrock c.c 'come and try it' skills area

Photo: Youth riders give the skills area a try at the stage 3 finish in Castle Douglas

Photo (credit to: Galloway News): Scottish Cycling's RDO Alan Denman with riders in the skiils area