Warren Mead Junior School in Epsom hosted the Extreme Mountain Bike Show on Friday 14 July. The show was a prize for coming first in Surrey in the Big Pedal, the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting challenge run by Sustrans, a sustainable transport charity. 

Danny Butler, multiple European and British mountain biking champion, performed some jaw dropping stunts on his custom made bike which included jumping on to the top of his trusty van.

Incredibly, the school also came  3rd nationally in the Big Pedal, beating 1,689 other schools. 86% of Warren Mead Junior pupils cycled and scooted daily over the last two weeks in March. 

The school cycling champions worked extremely hard to get these results, so it’s a testament to their determination and passion that the school did so well. To get these numbers, champions Roz Cook-Abbott and Vickie Wright organised activities every day during the Big Pedal, including bike brunch, water cycling, a giant bike art attack and a cycling paper round.

Having Danny Butler at the school was also an opportunity to launch the school’s brand new mountain bike obstacle course, complete with hairpin bends, bridge jumps and rubber tyres. 
The extreme Mountain Bike Show was followed by a family bike ride to the nearby downs and horse racing track.

The headteacher Ms Cunningham said: “I feel that WMJS have gone from strength to strength with cycling. I’m so proud of all we have achieved and it is all down to our fab cycle champions! To have come first in Surrey is a great achievement of which I know we are very proud, but to be first across the South East is even more incredible.; let alone 3rd nationally!

“Cycle clubs throughout the year alongside opportunities to cycle at lunch break and a variety of activities maintains the momentum and status of cycling, plus it encourages children to cycle to school regularly; not just for The Big Pedal. This is a life skill and we maintain 100% record of having our champions ensure all children learn to ride.”

The Bike It programme, which encourages children, staff and parents to cycle to school, has been running in Reigate & Banstead since 2009 and is funded by the Reigate & Banstead District Council parking department.

Article supplied by Lal Chatfield