Pendle News Room

The free event is taking place on Saturday 6 May from 10am – 4pm at the Steven Burke Sports Hub at Swinden playing fields near Nelson, Colne and Brierfield – accessed via Wilton Street Barrowford or Cravendale Avenue Nelson.

The facility, owned and managed by Pendle Borough Council, is home to Cycle Sport Pendle including BMX Pendle Panthers.

The 400 metre pump track has an inner track for beginners and a trials bike area with obstacles for more experienced BMX cyclists to practice their bike tricks. 
Tricia Wilson who leads on cycling events for the Council said:

“Pendle Panthers and Cycle Sport Pendle are brilliant!  

“They were chosen as the overall winner of Bikmo’s British Cycling Club of the Year 2023 competition due to their all-inclusive family spirit and overall support of the community.

“We are urging people of all ages to come and meet the winning team and try out our fantastic cycling facilities supported by experienced individuals who are getting people in to cycling.

“Part of the event is for women and girls, but there are opportunities for men and boys to enjoy the event, too – it’s open to people of all ages,” explained Tricia.  

“We also want to encourage more people in our Asian community, including Asian women and girls, to come and try cycling.”
And she added:

“The whole event is traffic free and very safe for people who are new to cycling or who need to build up their confidence”

Details about the event are on www.pendle.gov.uk/stevenburkesportshub

Manawar Bashah, who, along with Andy McGhie and others campaigned for a state of the art BMX pump track in Pendle, are enthusiastic coaches for BMX Pendle Panthers.
Manawar, who confessed he was “stoked beyond words” for the club to be announced best in Britain said:

“Come and join us for an amazing event on Saturday 6 May.

“It’s a great opportunity for people aged six and up to have a go at BMX cycling for the first time and to make the most of this fabulous free facility on our doorstep.”
Tricia Wilson added:

“There will be stalls selling samosas, cakes and henna painting for charity and I Cycle will be bringing low cost refurbished bikes and e-bikes to buy for those who really get the cycling bug!”

The packed timetable for the event includes:

10am - morning session for women and girls on the BMX pump track

10am – 12 noon try a bike cycling taster sessions for women and girls with Go Velo on the cycle circuit.

Dr Bike is on hand so that any cyclist can test their bike is roadworthy and safe to ride.

12 noon – 4pm free for all for boys and girls, men and women who are new to using the BMX pump track. 

1pm - 2pm, 2pm - 3pm and 3pm - 4pm guided led rides around Barrowford Park for those who gain enough confidence to venture out of the cycle circuit.   

More details about the facility including how to book the cycle circuit are on the Council’s website www.pendle.gov.uk/stevenburkesportshub

The £1000 prize from Bikmo via British Cycling will help support investing in kids BMX bikes to hire out for £1 at their sessions, buy more full face helmets to lend out, and be able to pay for the maintenance of their fleet of bikes for their ‘little rippers!’  

It will also help fund commissioning a short video to showcase two of their club members who have recently been selected to represent GB at the World BMX Championships in Glasgow in August.