Pendle News Room

Progression, which has been funded by Pendle Borough Council, will be premiered at arts organisation In-Situ’s HQ, The Garage, to Pendle Panthers BMX club members on Tuesday 1st February.

It will be available on the Visit Pendle website for the public the day after its release (Wednesday 2nd February), as well as on Pendle Council’s YouTube channel.

Cycle Sport Pendle Panther’s Coach Manawar Bashah, who approached S&A Photography back in November 2019 to arrange the film, said:

“Progression follows the story of one riders journey from a balance bike to trail-shredding mountain biking.

“It showcases the fantastic cycling facilities we have in Pendle and the awesome community that has been built around these.

“We wanted to show how people can be brought together thanks to this common interest.

“Cycling helps to bring a real sense of community cohesion, it’s all about having fun,” added Manny.

Due to the pandemic, the filming of Progression could only take place when Covid-19 restrictions were not in place.

The film was finally finished in November 2021, and Andy Tipping and Steve Bradley of local photography company, S&A Photography, set to work editing the footage.

Luke Tipping and Hannah Tipping, who were also involved in the film, sat down with Steve and Andy to work their way through the many hours of footage to create the 20-minute film.

Tricia Wilson, who leads on cycling for Pendle Council, said:

“We’re really happy to support this film which we hope will inspire people from Pendle to take up the sport, regardless of age or ability level.”

The film also aims to raise awareness of some of the cycling facilities open to the public in Pendle, focusing on the BMX pump track and the Steven Burke Sports Hub closed road cycle circuit.

The off-road cycling facilities at the Steven Burke Sports Hub, named after Pendle’s double gold medal-winning cyclist, are accessed from Wilton Street in Barrowford, BB9 8PU.

And Manny added:

“We’ve already got a gold medallist in road cycling, let’s get one in off road cycling, be it BMX or mountain bike!”

The BMX pump track is open and free to the public.

Across the bridge next door to the pump track is a 1.1km closed road cycle circuit which is also free to use.

“We are keen to raise awareness of both of these tracks to a growing number of cyclists,” added Tricia.

“The cycle circuit is available to book, and funding from the bookings goes back into the promotion and development of the circuit and cycling in general across Pendle.”

For more details about both cycling tracks visit www.pendle.gov.uk/stevenburkesportshub

And to avoid disappointment please check the timetable to make sure the circuit is available at the time you would like to visit.