A nationally acclaimed BMX track has been shortlisted in a public vote for National Lottery funding.
The track, on the site of the Pavilion Leisure Centre in Huncote, is home to the Huncote Hornets; a renowned BMX club and home to some of the best riders in the world.
Opened in September 2015, the new track was funded with contributions from Sport England, Leicestershire & Rutland Sport, Huncote Parish Council and Blaby District Council.
Within weeks of opening the new track hosted British cycling’s 2015 Midlands’ BMX Championships.
The club needs to raise £17,000 to install floodlighting to ensure it can use the new track all year round.
It has made it to the final stages of the National Lottery Awards, with the winner of the vote awarded £3,000.
The prestigious track is the only national standard track in Leicestershire, while the club has also been asked to consider hosting BMX’s National Race Series or the British Championships.
Olympic presence
Now an Olympic sport since its inception at London 2012, riders from the Hornets have represented Great Britain at the BMX World Championships. Members of the club range from 4 years old to 64 years old, and are working with schools to actively promote the next generation of BMX stars.
Guy Phelan of Leicester Huncote Hornets BMX Club, said:
“We’re delighted to have reached the finals of The National Lottery Awards. Lottery money has really helped us get our facility built and what we would like to do now is get the track floodlit so we can use it all year round.
“It’s easy to vote so we’re hoping people support us, as it would make such a massive difference to how much use we could get out of our facility. It would also be a fantastic reward for everyone involved in the project to receive national recognition for their hard work.”
Councillor Sheila Scott, Portfolio Holder for Health & Leisure Services, said:
“Huncote Hornets have made a fantastic use of our land and have an excellent, nationally-acclaimed track.
“We’re proud to have them on the site of our leisure centre, and I’d encourage everyone to vote for them for National Lottery funding to help this fantastic club continue to grow.”
To vote for the Leicester Huncote Hornets before Wednesday 20 July visitwww.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards,
or call 0844 836 9697*.
For more information about the club visitwww.leicesterhuncotehornets.com.