CLUB NEWS: Joy as Dirt Bike Club races on

One of the Rugby area’s biggest attractions for teenagers and young people is to continue after huge demand and booming interest in cycling left organisers with no choice but to
extend its original six week run.

The Dirt Bike Club, staged at Bretford Playing Fields, staged the last of its scheduled six
events last Saturday. The latest session of the exciting bike club drew its biggest attendance to date – spurred on by Britain’s Olympic cycling successes in Brazil.

There was joy, excitement and delight as organisers announced last Saturday that the
popular attraction for young people would continue. The next Dirt Bike Club is this Saturday (20th August), from 10am to 11.30pm. The club will now run until Saturday 24th September.

Youngsters of the club were ecstatic by the decision to continue by the organisers, the
Coventry Cycle Speedway Club. Parents and volunteers also welcomed the decision which
came after discussions with all concerned.

Parent Ian Gregory, of Rugby, whose 13-year-old sons Owen and Lee have attended every
session of the club, said: “My sons love it. It’s so well organised, with a proper coach each
week, it’s very well-structured and they have everything ready for when we arrive”.

David Middleton, of Daventry said: “Every youngster loves to ride bikes. My two sons, Jony
and Lewis, have attended each week and they are absolutely smitten with it. “The organisers have rescued a previously un-used cycling facility and turned it into a hive
of excitement and enjoyment. They have even organised proper race meetings, especially
for all the new youngsters. I congratulate all involved”.

And Mark Savage, from Brandon, whose 12-year-old son Tom has been one of the leading
riders un-earthed by the Dirt Bike Club, said: “It’s been tremendous. Tom talks about little
else these days and the club has been perfect for bored local youngsters these school holidays”.

The club has won backing from the Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Sports Partnership
and British Cycling, the governing body of cycle sport in the UK. All sessions are run by
experienced British Cycling coaches.

It aimed at youngsters, aged 8 years to 18 years, who wish to learn basic bike handling
skills, race tactics and the chance to compete at Cycle Speedway – where riders race with no brakes.

The club has been staged at the previously defunct track in Brandon Road, Bretford Playing Fields. Now the home of the Brandon Bees team, it is staged on a safe off road cycling track – the only cycle sports facility in the whole of Warwickshire.

The full address of the Dirt Bike Club is: Brandon Bees Cycle Speedway club, Bretford Playing Fields, Brandon Road, Bretford, Rugby, Warwickshire. Post code is: CV23 0LA.

For more information on the Brandon Bees Cycle Speedway club and the Dirt Bike Club,
please ring: 07400 993999.

The Brandon Bees team, consisting entirely of members of the Dirt Bike Club, race their first ever away match this coming Tuesday (23rd August) at Leicester. The match will be under floodlights, with the first race at 7.30pm. The Leicester track is in Slater Street, Frog Island, Leicester, LE3 5AS.

Acting Brandon Bees team manager Lee Marsh has named a ten rider squad for the trip to
Leicester, as follows: Joseph Augustas, Lucais Eyles, Jony Middleton, Owen Gregory, Cameron Gill, Lee Gregory, Tom Savage, Amy Baynes, Lewis Middleton and Louis Westhead.