WATCH: British cyclist races young stars at opening of new pump track
Last updated 17th May 2025
Children in Stow celebrated the official opening of their new pump track on Friday - by racing British cyclist Ben Allan.
The 18-year-old from the Scottish Borders - a special guest at the event - praised the investment in the new facility, pointing out a similar development in Cardrona helped launch his career in the sport.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: "It’s unreal! It’s so good seeing them enjoy it. It's like such a good feeling.
"I got into cycling very young as my parents were really into it, but I only really got into it after Cardrona got its pump track when I was maybe about 11.
"Just having it the gives you something to do and helps you enjoy it."
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The jumps have been built on an area of land between the village bowling club and play park, which was going spare, following a local fundraising campaign.
Joanne McBeath is one of the volunteers leading the project. She said: "A group of parents about six years ago now felt there was probably a need for something like this and we knew this land was available, it wasn't really used for anything.
"It's been fantastic! There's a lot of interest in biking in the area, but we didn't really have the roads for children to ride safely.
"There were a lot of children a few years ago that were much older when they started biking. They're developing healthy habits.
"And there was nothing in the village for all ages, and this spreads across all ages. There's adults come on here, and there's children on balance bikes, so it's filling a need for so many people."
The pump track has been funded by Scottish Borders Council's Place Based Development Fund, Sport Scotland and Scottish Cycling's Cycling Facilities Fund; as well as local windfarm funds Foundation Scotland’s EDF Longpark Community Fund, and SSE Renewables Toddleburn Community Fund.
Local authority leader Euan Jardine cut the ribbon to mark the official opening.
He said: “It's great to see so many young people getting out and enjoying the weather, and getting active.
"I hear young people from Galashiels are also coming up to use this."
Meanwhile a new bike bus has been launched in Stow to help transport children to and from school.
It's believed to be one of the first in the Borders and comes just weeks after the speed limit on the A7 - the main road through the village - was reduced from 60 to 50mph.
A bike bus is essentially when a group of cyclists come together to ride along a set route at set times, with others joining along the way.
The driver, or drivers, are the adults who marshall the ride.
There's no bus as such, although they probably take up as much space as one.
It's designed to get more people more active - and, on days like today, enjoy the outdoors.
Although I'm told more children here are already cycling to school so they can go to the new cycle track before and after.
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