Orange mountain bike riders are about to wrap up one of their most successful seasons – and now they have even more reason to celebrate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
You can come out for a picnic with the family at the lake and come over here for a ride
- Kim Broadfoot, Orange Mountain Bike Club
The Orange Mountain Bike Club has received $4559 in a State Government grant so it can buy automated race timing equipment for its races at the Lake Canobolas track.
Member for Orange Phil Donato was at the track on Monday to inform club officials of their successful bid.
And he couldn’t resist the temptation to go for a spin on one of the tracks – part of the 7km of trails at the park over the road from Lake Canobolas.
Mr Donato said the funding helped promote healthy activities.
“An active community is health and has the spin-off benefits,” he said.
Club vice-president Leo Presslaber said the timing equipment would enhance the club’s ability to host events.
The club wraps up its summer season of Thursday night racing this week.
Mr Presslaber said that after the club successfully hosted national series events at Kinross State Forest in January it was looking to host the event again, but this time at the Lake Canobolas complex.
There are now about 200 active mountain riders in Orange.
“We have about 400 followers on Facebook,” he said.
Mr Presslaber said the club had started with just a handful of diehard competitors every week but now that had changed.
“We get over 50 people every Thursday night here,” he said.
Club secretary Joel Broadfoot said the Lake Canobolas track had also been developed into a major attraction for riders from out of town.
Club member Kim Broadfoot said mountain biking was attracting more women and families.
“We’re getting a lot more female riders,” she said
Mrs Broadfoot said the course’s location next to Lake Canobolas was ideal.
“You can come out for a picnic with the family, there’s toilets there, and come over here for a ride.”
It was one of two growing Orange district sporting clubs to be successful in the latest round of sporting grants.
Mr Donato also informed the Central West Gymnastics Club of Orange it would receive $1449 to buy new safety mats.
The grants are delivered through the State Government’s Local Sport Grant Program.