Shinfield’s pedal power for Sport Relief

WITH the sun shining over Shinfield and not a snowflake in sight, Sport Relief 2018 kicked off with an excited group of Year 3 children dressed in red.

Year 6 Sports Leaders ran the event: highlighting lap cards, marshalling the course and encouraging those on two wheels and runners alike.

The Year 3 children were followed closely by the Year 4 children who also approached the day with equal energy and enthusiasm. Two courses were set up to allow children to ride and run wiThout crashing into each other.

It was also great to see so many staff members running and cycling around the two courses, with some having not sat on a bicycle in years!

Scooting and cycling proved a very popular choice throughout the day and we were lucky to have the services all morning of British Cycling Go-Ride Coach for the Central Region, Graham MacNamee. He was able to bring a trailer full of 18 bicycles and helmets to the school allowing some children (and staff!) from each year group, who had not brought in a bicycle or scooter, to ride the mile long course. Assisted by the Lloyd Watkins, Lead Coach for Sprockets Cycle Club, they provided on-the-spot bicycle adjustments, advice to the riders and they even had time to challenge some of our more competent riders.

It has been agreed that cycling will become Shinfield St Mary’s ‘new sport’ and in the summer term the school will offer curriculum time for cycling lessons for select classes and also the opportunity to attend after school cycling clubs.

The aim of the school is to make cycling accessible to all children and under the expert guidance of British Cycling and local clubs, such as Swallowfield Velo Club, who already run Saturday morning junior sessions on the school site, it is hoped that happy and confident riders are born in Shinfield!