CYCLONE ORGANISERS CELEBRATE FESTIVAL'S PHENOMENAL SUCCESS.FESTIVAL organisers are celebrating the phenomenal success of this year's Northern Rock Cyclone, England's largest cycling festival. Some of the world's best professional cyclists were attracted to the region to battle it out for the Beaumont Trophy, which saw Bradley Wiggins Bradley Wiggins, OBE (born April 28, 1980) is an English professional track and road bicycle racer. He won three medals on the track at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The son of a professional cyclist, Gary Wiggins, Bradley Wiggins was born in Ghent, Belgium but grew up in Maida pedalling to victory yesterday. The Cyclone offered opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to compete - many of whom raised much-needed funds for their chosen charities, with a staggering 130,000 of miles cycled in aid of good causes. Sponsored by Northern Rock as part of its ongoing sports and community investment programme, the festival kicked off in dynamic style on Friday with an evening of races, the Leazes Criteriums, in Leazes Park Leazes Park is a park in Newcastle upon Tyne. It lies to the west of the city centre. It is the city's oldest park, opened in 1873. It contains a lake above the course of the Lort Burn. It is next to St James' Park and the Royal Victoria Infirmary. . Consisting of Novice, Youth, Senior and Elite races - with entries from some of cycling's best known professional teams - winners included Ian Wilkinson of Team Halfords Bike Hut, Dean Downing Dean Downing (born 24 January 1975) is an English bicycle racer, specialising in road cycling. He rode for the DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed team in 2006 and is the older brother of the former British champion, Russell Downing. of Rapha Condor, and Chris Newton, also Rapha Condor. The evening also incorporated a new event, the Cyclone Celebrity Challenge, which pitched seven celebrities against each other in a time trial race in a bid to raise money for their nominated charity. Allison Curbishley Allison Curbishley (born 3 June 1976) was a British athlete. A play scheme in the summer holiday when she was 10 got Allison interested in sport and although athletics was the sport she eventually chose she also reached county standard in netball and hockey. snatched victory ahead of Geoff Thomas and Jeff Brown. Festival organiser Peter Harrison said: "This year's event has seen a huge rise in participants and spectators from both inside and outside the region - demonstrating how popular cycling has become in this country. "We're absolutely delighted that the Northern Rock Cyclone has grown to become the largest cycling festival in England and third biggest in the UK - next year we are aiming to take over the top spot." CAPTION(S): TROPHY WINNER Bradley Wiggins pedalling to victory in the Beaumont Trophy event yesterday. |
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