Norwich children hone their cycling skills with some fun tricks
A bicycle skills club in Taverham has been celebrating a successful first term of learning all sorts of crazy tricks on two wheels.
The children taking part in the classes at Taverham Junior School have learnt to jump on and off moving bicycles, cycle holding hands, limbo-cycle and other daredevil feats.
The club was started by coach, Peter Cornwell, who feels there is a big gap between the cycling proficiency courses he teaches around schools and adult cycling clubs, with nothing to encourage children to continue cycling as a sport.
He said: 'Our emphasis is on fun and we gradually develop the skills. It's a great confidence builder. I would love to see other schools getting cycling clubs going. All you need is a field and a coach.'
Peter, himself a keen cyclist, runs the club on a voluntary basis. He is taking the British Cycling level two course with funding from a Community Sports Grant supplied by Broadland District Council, West Norwich and Dereham School Sports Partnership and his cycling club.
This will help him offer even more adventurous cycling opportunities in future and also qualify him to help other volunteers learn coaching skills.
Qualified coach, Tony Goodall, has already been convinced to set up clubs at Firside and Kinsale schools in Hellesdon after working with Peter.
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Headteacher at Taverham Junior School, Paul Stanley, said the club was a great thing for the school, saying: 'I knew Peter was very experienced and enthusiastic and it's great having such a professional running the club. The children have really honed their skills and confidence. It makes them much safer on a bike because they have such a high degree of control.'
Peter also has help from two year 10 students from Taverham High School, his daughter Rachael and Karina Fuller, and two adult volunteers, Peter Austen and Michelle Connolly.
- Anyone interested in starting a cycling club at their school can contact Peter on 01603 867469.
- Do you know a community group organising an event? Call Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or email david.freezer@archant.co.uk