Grass Track - Rain does not stop play.

The girls Scratch race gets under way.

Friday 9th of may saw the summers first Grass track race of this years league and true to every other event we've had this year the rain came out to play but we didn't let it stop our fun and the racing went ahead all being it on geared bikes rather than the track bikes.

The boys scratch race.

Four schools turned out to race - Gayhurst, Kingsmead, Southwold and Tyssen with a spread of riders across years 4,5 and 6.

First race was the 1 lap Time Trial with four riders setting off a querter of the way around the track from each other at once. The fastest time of the day was 29 seconds set by Gyula Buzasi from Southwold for the boys and 34 seconds by Mercy Phipps from gayhurst in the girls race.



Following this we scratch races with years 4,5 and 6 all racing at once in the boys and girls races. Medals will go the top three finishers whilst points were awarded 1st to 10th in the three year groups which meant most riders scored some points for their team. Harry Gregory and Mercy Phipps( both Gayhurst) won their races.

After the scratch we had the elimination race or Devil as its known where the last rider over the line each lap is taken out of the race - these were closely contested with Harry and Mercy once again being the victors.


The final races of the day were team pursuits with two riders from each team battling it out against their opponents against the clock over three or four laps. The girls were up first with the times for three laps being Gayhurst - 2.07min, Kingsmead - 2.48min, Tyssen 3.04 min, Southwold 3.10 min. The boys did four laps - Gayhurst -3.35.6 mins, Kingsmead -3.17.71 mins, Tyseen - 3.19.13,Southwold 3.19.53 - very close times between the last two there.


Everyone had great fun and the rain held off mainly. Looking forward to seeing you all at the next one on the 13th of June.






Results -
Girls time trial - 1st , Mercy Phipps - Gayhurst, 2nd Shahila Richards - Kingsmead, 3rd - Mia Perez _ Gayhurst.

Girls Scratch Race - Mercy Phipps - Gayhurst, 2nd - Mia Perez _ Gayhurst, 3rd Evie Fletcher - gayhurst.

Girls Devil - Mercy Phipps - Gayhurst, 2nd - Mia Perez _ Gayhurst, 3rd Evie Fletcher - gayhurst.

Boys Time trial - 1st -Gyula Buzasi - Southwold, 2nd - Harry Gregory - Gayhurst, 3rd - Stanley Boyd - Gayhurst.

Boys scratch - 1st Harry Gregory - Gayhurst, 2nd - Stanley Boyd - Gayhurst, 3rd Tom Bardill - gayhurst.

Boys Devil - 1st Harry Gregory - Gayhurst, 2nd - Stanley Boyd - Gayhurst, 3rd Tom Bardill - gayhurst.

HPSCL celebrates 100 days to go until the Tour de France

HPSCL riders with Mayor of London Boris Johnson

 The worlds biggest free to watch sporting event is coming to our Borough in a little over 100 days time and some Hackney Primary School Cycling League riders helped to celebrate the coming event during a launch of a group of specially painted Barclays Hire Bikes with Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

L-r - Leon, Emeka, Harry, Robbie, Kai, Stanley, Leila, Shahila and Louis in front.

The children represented Kingsmead, Gayhurst and Baden Powell schools as well as Cycling Club Hackney.

The press pack photographing the riders in the rain watched by a giant cockerel.

Each of them were given a replica Tour de France leaders yellow jersey the same as Chris Froome wore when he won last years race , by Tour sponsors Le Coq Sportive.

One of the special yellow hire bikes.

Transport for London have specially painted up 101 bikes in yellow to celebrate the Tour coming to London in its 101st year - they will be place randomly around the capital so look out for them.

By chance there was a giant blue cockerel on the fourth plinth the same as the logo on the jerseys.

Roller Racing at the Forest Centre - results

Riders from Kingsmead and Southwold battling out against the clock

The enthusiastic and very noisy support cheered on every rider

The Forest centre provided a new venue for the league last friday as the Roller racing event moved us onto round three. Six schools competed - regulars Kingsmead, Millfields, Southwold and Gayhurst were joined by returnees Tyssen and newcomers Nightingale - making for close on 70 riders.

The blurred legs show how fast these riders were going

Riders battled against the clock for the same distance as the Olympic Velodrome track - 250 metres. The schools were pitted against each other in boy and girl catgories and by year group. Every race was cheered extremely loudly by the watching teams and supporters. The four fastest riders overall in the boys and girls then went through to the semi finals. The first girls semi final pitted Rose Rowan-Bishop from Nightingale against Victoria Nkan from Millfields - a close race saw Victoria edge through to the final. Next up were Shahila Richards from Kingsmead and Mia Perez from Gayhurst, another close contest saw Shahila go through. In the girls final Victoria got the upper hand early and won in style maybe benefitting from a longer rest between races or maybe she had saved something extra for the final?

The girls results

The boys first semi final had Sultan Adekuya from Southwold up against Harvey Hart from Gayhurst. Sultan started stronger and harvey came back at him but Sultan held on to grab the final spot. Next up were Gyula Buzasi and Tom Bardill again representing Southwold and Gayhurst respectively, with Gyula taking the victory and setting up an all Southwold final. It was close but Sultan's strength shone through and he grabbed top spot.

The boys results

It was a great day out in a great venue - well done to all the riders and thanks to Young Hackney for all their help. There was a good spread of the points across the schools with Gayhurst coming out top and taking over top spot in the league from Millfields. With plenty more races to come I'm sure this could all change again. looking forward to seeing you all at the next one on the 17th January at Hackney Downs for a bit Cyclocross.

The schools totals .

Next Event - Friday 6th December - Indoor Roller Racing

Hackney Downs MTB/Cross Race 8/11/13

The girls race getting underway.

 Last Friday was round 2 of this season's Hackney Primary Schools Cycling League. Forty five riders turned out to race in a cyclocross / mtb race at Hackney Downs. The grass was pretty long and thick which made for hard going for the young riders but after a practice lap they seemed eager to give it a go. First up were the girls with seventeen of them battling it out over three laps. Mercy phipps from Gayhurst Community School got the best start and led the rest of the way finishing a clear first. second place went to Abi Forster in a tussle with her team mate from Millfields Community School Victoria Nkan who finished third overall. See all the girls results below.

The turn at the top of the climb.

The girls full results - points awarded for 1st - 10th in year 6 and years 5/4.

The boys getting ready to start.

As the boys were warming up dark clouds threatened and just as they were being gridded for the start the rain poured down - barely able to hear the whistle they started four gruelling laps.

A massive downpour started in time with the boys race.

Harry Gregory from Gayhurst showed the form he has been displaying in the Eastern Cyclocross League for Cycling Club Hackney this season, as did Stanley Boyd with the two of them finishing 1st and 2nd respectively. Gayhurst made a clean sweep of the podium with Tahir Suleyman coming third - showing the fitness and racing skills he's learning at Hackney BMX. Full boys results here -

And the league as it currently stands -

 A great afternoon of racing despite the weather - thanks to all who came to support and help.

Off they go.

Hackney Primary Schools Cycling League

2009 saw the start of an exciting new sport initiative for young people within the London Borough of Hackney. Two primary schools came together and created a unique opportunity for their pupils: a youth cycle racing league in Hackney.

Keir Apperley - then a dedicated cycle sport development officer at The Learning Trust, (the org. responsible for education in the borough and today renamed Hackney Learning Trust) brought together headmasters from Southwold and Gayhurst schools, British Cycling and Go-Ride accredited Cycling Club Hackney in order to set up a programme of training and cycle sport competition aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils (ages 8 –11). 

"CC Hackney's assistant manager and coach Neil Irons was on hand to get this strategic proposal up and running and committed to steadily building up a vibrant competition league for all of Hackney that is going strong today. Neil and the league has given many youngsters knowledge and experience in the sport who'd otherwise not have this to take forward as skills for life. Hackney is a better place for it!"  Keir Apperley

The story so far...

The project started in summer 2009 when year 5 and 6 pupils from Southwold Primary School, Gayhurst Community School and Tyssen Community School received some Go-Ride training from British Cycling, which led to after-school cycling clubs being set up.

The club members then competed for places in their school teams in order to take part in two grasstrack racing events held in the summer term. These race meets were very successful; a series of different track races being hotly contested by girls and boys from all three schools using track bikes. Over the following academic year the league was expanded: 5 schools took part in 9 race meets, held about once a month. We did more grass track, a time trial for 70 kids, a circuit race, a roller-racing fundraiser, two hill climbs, a MTB event, and all of the schools involved continued their individual cycle programmes, including Bikeability and sports cycling, riding with Cycle Club Hackney, participation in mass cycle events and even attendance (and success!) at several national cycle racing championships.

The 2011-12,  2012-13 seasons followed in a similar format with more schools joining in including schools from the neighbouring borough of Haringey.

The 2013 -14 season promises to be the closest league yet with more teams wanting to join and Millfields, Kingsmead and Southwold all keen to knock Gayhurst off the top spot. 

Why competitive cycling?

The league is providing a fun and safe introduction for young riders to the world of cycle sport.

The young people involved are able to try out various cycle sport disciplines and start enjoying one of the fastest growing sports in the UK today; cycling has been a hugely successful sport for Great Britain in the last two Olympics. Hackney is an Olympic borough and the 2012 Olympic venues are just next door, providing indispensable inspiration and motivation!

The league is providing children who would not otherwise have the opportunity with an appropriate way into competitive cycling and a chance to develop their skills; it contributes to the schools’ commitment to the government’s 5 Hour Offer. It brings cycling to a wider range of young people whilst meeting aspects of the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda and optimises the provision of coaching expertise and leadership in cycling at a primary school level. Through this introduction to the sport the young riders can progress to join local cycling clubs and perhaps to represent their borough in the London Youth Games and beyond. Alongside attaining Intermediate level British Cycling Go-Ride skills riders are taught road awareness 

and Bike-ability skills to make them skillful and observant riders.

• Monthly race meets: hill climbs, circuit races, mountain-biking and cyclo-cross, grasstrack, time trialling, roller racing.

• Points awarded for teams and individuals.

• 5 schools regularly taking part, with 4 more hoping to join in this year!

The long-term vision

The future we envisage is one of healthy Hackney children enjoying sport, learning life skills and contributing to sustainable travel patterns within London. It is accepted that those who enjoy cycling when they are young are more likely to continue cycling throughout their adult life – be it for fun, transport, or sport.

The Hackney Primary Schools Cycling League will hopefully become an established part of the Hackney primary schools sports calendar, expand to include secondary schools, and provide inter-borough competition between the five Olympic boroughs, making the most of the 2012 legacy.