Cycling: Huddersfield younsters encouraged to take up cycling as a sport in Go Ride campaign

HUDDERSFIELD schoolchildren are being encouraged to take up cycling as a sport.

Around 30 boys and girls from Newsome Junior School were the latest to get involved in Go Ride, with tuition from Yorkshire area coach Chris Young.

Huddersfield Star Wheelers’ Ivan Boyes – who runs a session at 3.00 each Saturday on the artificial pitch just below the school – says it’s a great way for youngsters to enjoy traffic-free cycling.

“Chris Young is going round schools introducing boys and girls to cycling as a sport, and they have a lot of fun,” said Boyes.

“There’s a warm-up first of all, then a skills-based session before some races at the end.

“At Newsome, we split them into two groups with boys and girls having a ride around the school grounds, teaming up to take part in some pairs exercises, having some cycle speedway type races and then finishing off with a woodland ride.”

The Go Ride sessions, and those organised by the Star Wheelers, tend of have a 50-50 split of boys and girls, qualified coaching is offered throughout and, while there are some thrills and spills along the way because it’s sport, it’s organised in a safe environment without road traffic.

“It is all geared to coaching kids to do cycling as a sport,” stressed Boyes.

“Chris Young is organising a Go Ride race at Newsome in June and the Star Wheelers will also be organising some events in the summer.”

More details are available from Boyes on 07527 810086 or at ivanboyes@starwheelers.com

Huddersfield Star Wheeler Mark Thaxter got his time trial season underway with 15th place in the Hull Thursday RC 10 mile event last Saturday.

Thaxter was disappointed not to have broken the 20 minute barrier but his time of 20.17 is a good indicator for better times to come.

Clubmates Andrew Pearson and Jason Fossey were also in action for the first time in 2011 and stopped the clock in 22.09 and 22.27, respectively. Huddersfield Road Club’s Paul Brierley was 47th in 21.58.

Michael Hutchinson (In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT) was fastest rider on the day in a blistering time of 18.07.