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Youth track cycling in Newcastle-Under-Lyme is going ahead after it secured sponsorship from Swinnertoncycles.co.uk.
The British Cycling National Tandem Sprint Championship and Newcastle-under-Lyme round of the Northern Area Youth Omnium series, will be sponsored by Swinnerton Cycles, who have been trading since 1915 and are long time competitors and supporters of racing at the Newcastle under Lyme Velodrome.
In previous years this meeting has seen the likes of gold medal winning Olympians Victoria Pendleton and Jason Kenny compete, and this year future British Olympians race could be in action.
The 2012 event, on Sunday 20 May at the Lyme Valley stadium, will form part of the British Paralympian cyclists’ training programme for next year, with Beijing gold medallists, Barney Storey and Anthony Kappes racing along with Craig Maclean and Neil Fachie. It offers a great chance of local riders to follow in the tyre tracks of Newcastle-under-Lyme rider, Kian Emadi, who has been talent spotted in previous youth omnium races and is hoping to make the Olympic squad for the 2016 games in Brazil.
Event co-ordinator, Paul Barber, said: "Swinnerton Cycles sponsorship of this event means everything, as it allows us to put on a more professional meeting, including the hiring of photo finish timing equipment for race winners.
"It also enables us to divert funds into promoting and sustaining cycling to young people in Staffordshire and beyond. This is a key event for British Cycling staff to identify emerging talent for inclusion in the Olympic Talent Team programme and I'm sure we'll see some fantastic races. The owner Paul Swinnerton is also a key member of the coaching and support team at the track"
Paul Swinnerton added: "We're delighted to sponsor this event and look forward to seeing cycling stars of the future in action.
"Our commitment to local cycling is long-term and we support activities at the track and the home club Lyme RC." The meeting will include youth omnium races at under 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 levels with the two higher age groups split into girls and boys.
Barber concluded: "Cycling in this country is more popular than ever before and this is reflected in the number of youngsters attending the Newcastle track every week."
The closing date for entries is 30 April 2012. Spectating is free.
Track entry forms can be found here.
