Bexhill Burners' surprise visitor sees refurbished track

Rother cabinet has just voted 5,000 to enable the resurgent club to install the electronic starting gate that it needs for competition riding to resume at the Sidley track.

Despite not having a track built and maintained to competition standards until now, a twelve-strong club squad did well at the recent British championships at Peterborough as part of the regional team.

Led by adult helpers, club volunteers have been working to re-build the long-disused track.

Jumps and berms have been re-profiled and re-surfaced.

Local Rother members Cllr Jimmy Carroll, Cllr Robert Wheeler and Cllr Paul Lendon were on hand on Monday afternoon to show the MP what has been achieved by the club so far.

Representing the club were junior committee members Pete Lavender, 16, and Sam Richardson.

Pete, who came second in the British Championships, gave the MP a demonstration ride, lapping solo in 37 seconds '“ well outside his best.

Pete explained to the MP how an electronic starting gate which drops into a recess in the starting grid is essential for competition riding and accurate timing.

He said: "Having re-built the track is good because me and Sam and the other kids who race need to practice because without practice you don't get better."

For the MP, track and demonstration ride were an eye-opener..

Sam, who got 10th place in his debut in the British Championships, explained: "I broke my jaw in two places and my wrist on the old track. The old track had not been maintained. There were rocks sticking out of the jumps."

Mr Barker said: "It is great to see the refurbished track being used so widely and enthusiastically by Bexhill youngsters.

"Who knows, we could have a potential Olympic champion in our midst. Why should Bexhill not aim high and have a medallist in the 2012 London Olympics?

"There is a lot of ambition and a lot of potential in the town."