Pump track celebration for Bolney children

PR2413/SB/MF - 15/02/2022

Children and families in Bolney are invited to join Team GB Olympian Kyle Evans at the Recreation Ground on 22 February to celebrate the opening of a new BMX pump track.

From 1pm until 3pm Pro BMX Rider Kyle Evans will be on hand to demonstrate how to ride the track, meet the youngsters and provide valuable advice.  A live DJ will keep the tunes flowing during the afternoon and will run DJ workshops so young people can have a go for themselves. Sussex Clubs for Young People will be providing arts activities and Bolney based bike repair shop Charlie’s Pedal Shed will be there to offer free safety checks for bikes and scooters.

Mid Sussex District Council opened the new bike track at the start of February, and it is already proving popular with local riders. It has been designed and built by pump track experts Clark and Kent, the same company who built the London 2012 Olympic Games BMX Supercross Track.

For those unfamiliar with BMX riding, a pump track is made up of bumpy track, known as rollers and banked turns called berms. Riders use pumping up and down body movements to generate forward momentum, and the track maximises that momentum so they can navigate the course with only a small amount of pedalling required.

The new Bolney Pump Track is 80 metres long and is surfaced with tarmac to create a smooth ride and ensure children are able to use it all year round. The course has been specifically designed so that it can be used by riders of all ability levels. A young novice rider with no experience still has the same excitement and user experience as someone who has been riding for years.

Councillor John Belsey, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery said:

“The new pump cycling track at Bolney is a fantastic place for children to play, learn new skills and socialise together. Pump cycling is tremendous exercise for riders of all ages and I’m sure this track will be a huge benefit to the physical and mental wellbeing of local children.

“It’s incredibly exciting to have a Team GB Olympian in Kyle Evans coming to visit the village to pass on his knowledge to the children. Kyle represented Great Britain at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and hopefully his achievements will inspire a whole new generation of youngsters.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you Bolney Parish Council for the support they have provided towards improving play facilities for children in the village. The Parish Council helped to fund new playground equipment at the Recreation Ground and that investment meant we had enough money left to create this wonderful new pump track.”

ENDS