Mildenhall Cycling Club are one of the growing number of Go-Ride Club’s in the country approved by British Cycling to run their programme that teaches children the fundamentals of cycling.

MILDENHALL Cycling Club are one of the growing number of Go-Ride Club’s in the country approved by British Cycling to run their programme that teaches children the fundamentals of cycling.

The latest session the club put on, in conjunction with Sustrans programme called Bike-It! was at Norwich Road Primary School in Thetford. Mandy Cook, one of the club’s qualified Level Two coach, explained “We don’t mind how experienced, or, inexperienced they are, the only thing we ask for from the children is enthusiasm. We can teach them the rest.”

She added, “Nothing pleases me more than seeing them learning through the fun, challenges and competition. Often they are enjoying themselves so much they don’t realise they are actually learning at the same time!

British Cycling’s development programme for young people provides a fun and safe way to introduce young riders to the world of cycle sport and provides a platform to improve bike handling skills. To get involved is easy, through one of our many holiday coaching programmes or at a local Go-Ride club, where young people will be able to sample the various cycle sport disciplines and start enjoying one of the fastest growing sports in the UK today. For those who are already involved and want to move forwards, Go-Ride has it covered with the new Go-Ride Racing competition programme.

The club’s press officer, Mark Burchett, says “Although we aren’t trying to take the credit for her phenomenal success, Victoria Pendleton MBE began her cycling career with Mildenhall CC and showed her developing talent on the grass-track. She demonstrates that any young person can reach the very top of our sport with the right dedication, coaching as well as a sprinkling of talent, which she must have inherited from her father Max, who himself was a National 8km grass-track champion and is still a member of our club”

Victoria won a gold and silver medal at the World Track Cycling Championships held in Copenhagen recently. The leading lady of not just the UK cycling scene, but the world too retained her world sprint title beating Chinese rider Shuang Guo and has now won it five times in the last six years. She also qualified for the final of Women’s Kieron, where she narrowly lost out to Simona Krupeckaite from Lithuania.

“The club is obviously very pleased at her continued success” added Mark.

The Mildenhall Club are running a weekly Go-Ride programme throughout the summer, for eight-16 year olds based at their headquarters, in Wamil Way, Mildenhall, from Monday May 10 to Monday August 16 2010. Each session will cost �2 (club members free) and will consist of a mixture of skills and grass track racing at these sessions.

To register for the sessions the club are holding an open evening on Monday, April 26 (7.30pm), where the children and their parents are invited to come along and find out more.