Sports Park Hawke's Bay

Hawke’s Bay residents have one last chance to show their support for the regions bid for the Unison Velodrome.

Black White Let’s Bike has just over one week to go and campaign organisers want as many supporters as possible to show their black and white colours and be in an official campaign photo at the Regional Sports Park on Waitangi Day - February 6.

The Regional Sports Park in Hastings is hosting the Ngati Kahungunu arranged Waitangi Day celebrations which are expected to attract over 15,000 people throughout the day.

Regional Sports Park Trust chairman Lawrence Yule said already many businesses, schools and individuals have shown their support by riding an overwhelming 356, 658 laps since late October.

“Over the last three months six stationary bikes have visited businesses and schools while local cyclists have also donated training and commuting kilometres to the campaign.

“We had hoped to ride a lap for every Hawke’s Bay resident (approximately 150,000) but we have far exceeded that target!”, Mr Yule said.

The Hub Cycle Shop is giving away three of the kids bikes that were used during the campaign while Unison Networks, the major sponsor of the proposed Velodrome, is giving away 10 cycle helmets at the Waitangi Day event. Everyone that turns up will go into the draw to win.

Hawke’s Bay is one of several regions and cities bidding for a Cycling Centre of Excellence with funding support from Government. A decision is expected in April 2011.

Regional Sports Park Trust chair Lawrence Yule said Hawke’s Bay’s bid ticked all the boxes and the communities support would send a strong message that the region wants a Velodrome as part of a centre of excellence for cycling.

“There’s many cycling initiatives underway in Hawke’s Bay and the Black White Lets Bike campaign shows that the community fully supports a Velodrome.

Two major sporting events – Iron Maori and the Hawke’s Bay Mountain Bike Club’s Eastern Express also provided a large number of laps to the campaign.

The Unison Velodrome will be based at the Regional Sport Park and will cater for cyclists from elite levels to recreational riders. It will be built to international specifications, but will also provide for a variety of other sporting uses.

The Hawke’s Bay bid is supported by our own local cycling stars - Commonwealth Games gold medalist Alison Shanks and silver medal-winning cyclist Westley Gough.

“Give it your all and bike for your Velodrome Hawke’s Bay,” Ali says.

The Black White Let’s Bike campaign has a dedicated website www.letsbike.co.nz