WELLFIELD Primary School were the first ever winners of the East Lancashire Primary Schools Cycle Racing event held at the recently opened Steven Burke Cycle Hub.

Schools from across Pendle, Burnley, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley took part in the competition at a venue opened up to encourage more youngsters to get on their bike.

It was open to schools who had taken part in Bikeability training during the Summer term and have staged an area event to test the cycling skills they have learned.

The top two teams from each borough attended the East Lancashire finals named in honour of Colne’s Olympic Games gold medal winner Burke.

Teams took part in two races against the clock. The first was a skills race with the second being a team pursuit – the race in which Burke won a gold medal at London 2012.

While the scores were being collated, all the riders did a few laps of the track to finish off a very competitive and enjoyable afternoon of cycling.

Wellfield, representing Burnley, finished as winners, ahead of Huncoat from Hyndburn while St Mary’s from the Ribble Valley were third.

School Games Organisers from across the area; Neil Stewart at Pendle, Helen Tyson at Burnley and Jane Johnson from Hyndburn and Ribble Valley see this as an extension to the cycling they provide through Bikeabilty training.

Pupils were told about the opportunities open to them at the Hub which is where CSP – Cycle Sport Pendle– is based.

The event will be staged each term for the schools participating in Bikeability and Nathan Bibby, the School Games Organiser in Rossendale, says that next term Rossendale will have representatives too.

“Many thanks to Dylan Clayton (British Cycling) and Kirsti Grayson (GoVelo) for helping to stage the event,” said Neil Steward n Results: 1 Wellfield (Burnley), 2 Huncoat (Hyndburn), 3 St Marys (Ribble Valley), 4 Park (Pendle), 5 Cherry Fold (Burnley), 6 Kelbrook (Pendle)