Wey Valley bike riders win £4k lottery boost (From Dorset Echo)

Wey Valley bike riders win £4k lottery boost

2:00pm Saturday 8th May 2010 in News By James Tourgout

YOUNG riders are leading the way with a new mountain bike club at a Weymouth school.

The Wey Valley Wheelers will be kicking up dust after winning a Big Boost Lottery Grant of £4,000.

Wey Valley head of PE Mark Salmon hopes to open the group to all youngsters in the area if it takes off.

The Wheelers also hope to link up with an adult group being launched by bike shop Mud, Sweat and Gears.

Mark said: “It’s brilliant. We have about 25 people signed up so far. I hope more will become interested and that the club will grow and grow.”

He added: “The idea is that Wey Valley will start the club. Depending on how it goes, we would look to make it open to all young people in the area. Then they will go on to the 16-plus club set up by Mud, Sweat and Gears.”

The Wey Valley Wheelers meet every Wednesday from 3.30pm to 6pm.

They have also secured a £250 Extended Schools grant from the Government on top of Lottery cash.

The club has already taken receipt of six new Felt bicycles.

It was launched after mountain biking was introduced into the curriculum and formed part of adventure weekends run by the school.

Mr Salmon said the club was launched after pupils said that the biggest barrier to them continuing the activity out of school was the cost.

Andy Leach runs Mud, Sweat and Gears, formerly Weymouth Cycle Centre, at shops on the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth and on the Great Western Industrial Estate in Dorchester.

Anyone interested can contact Mr Salmon at the school 01305 812855.