sportscotland funding ensures riders are on track

Tuesday 21 June 2005

Scottish Youth Squad riders, Magnus Davidson, Morvern Brown, Hamish Creber and Callum Shields will join mountain bike enthusiasts from across Scotland tomorrow (Wednesday 22 June), to celebrate the official launch of the brand new mountain bike training track at Glenmore Lodge, sportscotland’s national outdoor training centre.

The project, supported by an investment of £37,000 as part of sportscotland’s Demonstration Programme, provides a purpose built mountain bike track divided into seven sections, each one targeting a particular riding skill, including as many features as might be encountered on a full size circuit.

"Scotland is now recognised as one of the top destinations in the world for performance and leisure mountain biking, and the opening of this facility will strengthen that international reputation."

The track will provide a valuable training facility for riders of all ages and abilities visiting Glenmore Lodge, allowing tutors to teach a wide range of riding skills, helping to develop the sport from grass roots to elite level. The course will also be used by Scottish squad riders for specialised training in the run up to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne next year and the Mountain Bike World Championships in Fort William in 2007.

sportscotland’s Demonstration Programme supports projects that demonstrate good design, management and planning to provide a benchmark for future projects to ensure the development of quality, accessible facilities across the nation.

sportscotland and Glenmore Lodge have worked closely with Scottish National Heritage and the Forestry Commission Scotland to consider the construction of the course in order to minimise the environmental impact of the track.

The mountain bike track will be closely monitored, utilising user feedback to identify any problems with the track, so that appropriate alterations can be made. As part of the project, drawings and details of the construction of the track will be compiled in an information pack. sportscotland will also be working with Forestry Commission Scotland and Cycling Scotland to develop generic advice on track construction, to provide to other groups planning to construct or operate similar projects.

The circuit will be used for training as part of Scottish Cycling’s Scottish Mountain Bike Leadership scheme, which provides a framework and qualification for leaders to deliver mountain biking to others, as a safe and enjoyable sport. Over 1000 people have gone through the scheme since it started in 1997, providing opportunities for groups of youngsters and adults from a wide range of backgrounds, to enjoy mountain biking under the guidance of a qualified leader.

As part of the launch, youth squad riders Magnus Davidson, Morvern Brown, Hamish Creber and Callum Shields will be demonstrating their skills on the course. The new Official Training Manual for Scottish Cycling’s Mountain Bike Leader Award Scheme will also be unveiled.

Tim Walker, Principal, Glenmore Lodge said: "We are all very excited by this new development, it will compliment and enhance our rapidly growing mountain bike training programme.

"From its inception the project has proved to be an excellent example of partnership working between a number of agencies, but I would particularly want to thank Scottish Natural Heritage and the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Department for their support in helping us develop this exciting new facility."

Graeme Herd, National Cycling Coach said: "From a performance perspective any facility which will benefit performance mountain biking is welcome.

"Scotland is now recognised as one of the top destinations in the world for performance and leisure mountain biking, and the opening of this facility will strengthen that international reputation."

Alastair Dempster, Chairman sportscotland said: "We are delighted to have supported the development of the mountain bike track at Glenmore Lodge, encouraging the development of the sport from grass roots to elite level.

"The provision of the new track will greatly enhance the training facilities at Scotland's National Outdoor Training Centre, helping to achieve sportscotland’s goal of making more people, more active, more often".

• The official launch of the new mountain bike trail will take place on Wednesday 22 June at 2pm at Glenmore Lodge, Glenmore, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, PH22 1PL.
• Guests will also have the opportunity to ride on the new track under the instruction of Glenmore Lodge staff.
• You and your representative are invited to attend.