A Positive Impact - My Highlight of The Tour of Britain
My highlight of the Tour of Britain was a surprise, not an epic viewpoint, a spectacular breakaway or a result. It's story wasn't even about the cyclists but rather about the power of our sport and the effect it can have in the most routine location.
Edwin Squire is the Head Teacher of Billingham South School, and a big supporter of the Smurfit Westrock team. Several weeks before the race I shared details of the route of stage 2 with Edwin, knowing that it passed close to his school. He confirmed that the school was just around the corner from the route and he was planning to take a group of students out to watch the race pass by.
Edwin is a true advocate for cycling, a coach with Stockton Wheelers he works tirelessly to introduce and encourage youngsters to cycling and to racing. His school has a scheme which not only teaches children to ride but provides them with bikes to learn on, to discover the enjoyment of cycling and to begin racing on. He’s even built a bike course for children to practice their skills and all 4 year old children learn to use balance bikes.
The podium of stage 1 had already been a proud moment for Edwin and Stockton Wheelers as three of their young riders had presented awards to the days leading riders including Isla Mitchell, a fan of Cat Ferguson, with her picture pinned to her bedroom wall, who had the thrill of presenting Cat with her Leading Young Rider's trophy.
Together Edwin and I hatched a plan to take a group of children to the roadside to watch the race pass, to cheer on the Smurfit Westrock Team and to capture the occasion on camera.
Research on Google Maps identified a great location, a tight corner providing a great view as the race passed through Billingham on it's circumnavigation of Middlesborough, all we needed was decent weather and a solo-break by one of the team!
Arriving early in the rain I chose my spot just after the corner with plenty of space to set up, including a central reservation to photograph opposite the school children. Edwin and the children arrived, not only bringing the sunshine but also an armful of printed signs with them, as well as lots and lots of enthusiasm. It wasn't long before the first race vehicle appeared, before a stream of official cars and police motorbikes roared past, each one sounding their horn or siren as they passed, delighting the children.
The excitement only grew as front of the race approached, a break of three riders appeared, containing Lucy Gadd in the bright red of the Smurfit Westrock team, as if it had been planned! Live TV pictures focussed on the children as they picked out team members in the peloton flashing past.
For the children, this was the first time many of them had seen cycle racing up close. The speed of the race, the whole infrastructure surrounding it and the unique experience of supporting a team as they race just feet away on a local road.
Many of the children have gone on from Billingham South to join Stockton Wheelers and some take up racing. One or two of this group are starting out on that journey. Experiencing the Tour of Britain passing through their town, and supporting a team which, through their head teacher, they already know a little about, has had a big positive effect.
“I loved the noise of all the sirens and the colours.”
“My best bit was seeing the racer in red winning the race”
“I’ve been thinking about racing but now I’m definitely going to do it.”
Edwin explained a little more about the impact of the race:
“The Tour of Britain was a huge opportunity for local, young riders to engage with a world tour event. So many youth riders got to engage with the event by the roadside, on the podiums and just by going along to see riders after the race. So many riders, including the whole Smurfit Westrock team gave their time to children which meant so much.
Adam contacted me about a possible photo shoot which gave me the chance to introduce the race to young cyclists, all of whom attend a club at my school. They loved listening to Adam’s insights about the races he’s seen and how he planned to take pictures. They loved the whole Tour event moving past. They loved cheering all the riders on. Having heard about the amazing team in red and black, they loved seeing Lucy Gadd away on the front too.
It was a special few days for me, the children at school and all our youth riders from Stockton Wheelers.”
I planned the moment with Edwin as an opportunity to capture the race passing a group of enthusiastic youngsters, hoping I could include the team within the images. As it happens the images I captured were eclipsed by the positive and lasting impact the race brought to Billingham and the children of Billingham South School.
Thank you to Edwin, the children of Bilingham South School, Stockton Wheelers, Smurfit Westrock and particularly Lucy Gadd, for getting into the early break and positioning herself perfectly for an iconic photo!
