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Plans for new BMX pump track at park
BMX PLANS: Jimmy Cubbon (centre) with some of his supporters for a BMX pump track at Poulsom Park in Castletown. PHOTO: John Maddrell JM120714 (141).
MOVES are afoot to create a BMX pump track in Castletown’s Poulsom Park.
There is already a riding track for young cyclists in the park, created by the town’s commissioners and a group of volunteers several years ago, but another group wants to upgrade what’s already there.
Driving the initiative is Ballabeg resident Jimmy Cubbon who said: ‘I do not feel there are sufficient facilities in the south for young children.
‘Myself and a few friends have got kids who enjoy riding bikes, we have to take them all the way to Ramsey to the BMX track in Mooragh Park.
‘We’re looking at building a pump track, it would be the first official one of its type in the island. With the pump track there are lots of small jumps, sharp corners, you are able to generate speed from jumps.’
He added: ‘Not a huge amount of work is needed. Hopefully a large construction firm in the south will do it at no cost for the good of the community.’
The track will make the most of the area that is a natural bowl shape.
‘It is not a huge operation,’ Jimmy added. ‘But what we can get out of it is a great riding facility.’
Jimmy, who is a policeman, has spent several years coaching sport and is also a keen cyclist, so he knows what he’s talking about – on several levels.
His police experience has taught him the more young people are involved in sport, the less likely they are to become involved in antisocial behaviour.
He explained how the creation of a good track will mean more people will use it and the area will, to an extent, become self-policing.
The commissioners support the initiative, as does Castletown MHK Richard Ronan, who was involved in creating the original track when he was a commissioner. He said: ‘I’m delighted to see there will be an improvement of what we already have.
‘Jimmy has involvement with the BMX fraternity and wants something in the south.
‘There is nowhere really for people to exercise, it’s a beautiful setting which is terribly underused.
‘This is hopefully the first of a series of ongoing projects we could do in the park. I’m keen for people to use their regions more and to stay in their area. This is not rateborne – it will be done by volunteers, private subscription and donation. We do not have to spend a lot of money.
‘The first track was [commissioner] Paul Kennaugh’s idea and I drove it with him. We managed to create it using volunteers and donations and it has been used.
‘We were amateurs, but now there are some experts involved. They know what they want and, if it’s right for them, they will use it.’
Anyone interested in helping should contact the town’s clerk Eddie Convery, phone 825005.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
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