Skip to content

Woman who took up BMX at 41, excited for club licence

Katy Prickettand
Connor Bennett,at Peterborough BMX Club
Connor Bennett/BBC Leah Pearson, in a light and dark blue top saying Peterborough Phantoms. She is wearing a helmet and smiling broadly. Behind her are undulating concerte tracks and leafless trees against a grey sky. Connor Bennett/BBC
Leah Pearson, who took up the sport in her 40s, said taking part was "the biggest buzz", adding she had never been so fit before in her life

A woman who took up BMX riding as "a mid-life crisis at 41" said her club being granted a licence would help it reach "its full potential" and could help it attract national-level competitions.

Peterborough BMX Club was issued a community licence by the city council on Tuesday, meaning it can apply for funding from groups such as Sport England.

The council owns the track based in Orton Malborne, which is a community sports facility that has been used by the club for more than 40 years.

Leah Pearson, who is now 54, said the new licence should "open up quite a few opportunities to be able to get some funding".

Club chairman Ashley Goulding said: "The club was first formed in 1982... and has historically run national events and British championships, so we're looking to bring it back up to standard that it needs, bring more children into the sport locally and develop the club."

Connor Bennett/BBC At least six BMX riders poised, standing up on their pedals leaning over their bikes ready on a ramp above the track gate, ready to go. They are all wearing helmets and fleeces. Behind them are leafless trees. Connor Bennett/BBC
The club attracts members aged as young as four to their sixties, said chairman Ashley Goulding

Under the previous licence, the city council was liable for the track's maintenance.

Following the decision, the club will be liable for all its repairs, maintenance and improvements.

Any external funding it secures would be used to upgrade the facility to a national competition standard.

"It's been a little bit of a barrier... so now we're able to really plough on, develop the site, get funding from places like National Lottery to Sports England and grow the club to its full potential," said Goulding.

Pearson, who has previously been its treasurer, praised the current track standards, but added it should now be able to "finally get done to the track what we've actually planned for quite a number of years".

"It will only improve the track and make it a facility that maybe we can hold nationals at," she said.

Connor Bennett/BBC Tim Stratford, a rider in a light and dark blue top saying Peterborough Phantoms. She is wearing a helmet and starting to smile. On his right is the undulating concrete track. Behind it are leafless trees under a grey sky.Connor Bennett/BBC
Tim Stratford describes himself as one of the club's "middle-aged children" and praised the club as "good fun to be around"

Tim Stratford, 45, travels from Milton Keynes to use the track, having taken up the sport about five years ago.

He said: "It's a big part of my life now, I really enjoy it.

"The people are great... people of all ages and ability, from kids to middle-aged children like myself."

Pearson added the sport was "a wonderful thing for the whole family" but also attracted older riders like her, which is "such an inspiration to the younger riders".

"It's fun, exciting and inclusive," she said.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
Related internet links