Bosses at a hotel in Telford have given more children the chance to take part at a BMX club by buying a new race bike for the club.
Wayne Jenson, general manager of the Buckatree Hall Hotel in Wellington, enjoyed visitors staying at the hotel when Wrekin Riders BMX Race Club hosted the British BMX Series last month.
As a Dawley resident he has watched the talented youngsters in action and recently read about the surge in riders since the BMX Olympic rounds in Rio.
Mr Jenson handed over a new bike to the club at a recent training session.
“We thoroughly enjoyed hosting members of British Cycling and also riders from across the UK during the National weekend.
“This encouraged me to have a look at the facility which is right on our doorstep. It really is fantastic to have a National standard track right here in Telford,” he said.
“I then read in the Shropshire Star about the increase in numbers visiting the track since the Olympics but realised not every parent can afford to buy their child a race bike straight away.
“I spoke to the club and they said they do have bikes to hire to the novice riders but there are more children than bikes and that’s when I thought we could help.
“The club provided business to us by bringing so many people to the area so we wanted to give something back to them.”
Mr Jenson, who visited the track with his two daughters, said he hoped to be able to start taking them to the novice sessions and once recovered from a recent ankle injury he might even have a go himself!
Club coach Kieran Edwards said: “We’ve had some fantastic novice and expert training sessions over the summer and we hope the weather will hold out so we can continue training as much as possible.
“There’s no doubt there’s some riders coming through who will certainly be ones to watch in the future.
“We would like to thank Wayne and all at the Buckatree for sponsoring a new club bike – it is generosity like this from the local community which makes it all worthwhile.
“It is exactly what we need – from businesses paying for a corporate trackside banner to donations of services and trades to generous purchases of bikes or equipment – every donation makes a difference.”