Young BMX team star at opening

Bike enthusiasts from across the area descended on the West Shepton Playing Fields on Saturday for the official opening of the town's new BMX / Dirt Track.

The honour of declaring Shepton Mallet Youth Group's latest new sports facilities open was given to the T and J Race team – a group of young professional riders who wowed the crowds with their skills and are sponsored by Steve Jenks who built the hugely popular Shepton track.

And there was a chance for youngsters to enter a range of competitions and win their own BMX bike.

The T and J Race Team includes Molly O'Loughlin, Katie Yates, Betham Hallet, Oliver Foster, Ryan O'Loughlin, Oliver Fay, Jake Cornforth, Jason Fay, Mike Smart, Eddy Moore, and Josh Moore.

Group spokesperson Lauren Keeling said: "The Shepton Mallet Youth Group would like to say a massive thanks to the T and J Race Team.

"It was great to see so many young people and their families having an exciting time and supporting this great facility that Shepton now has thanks to the support of the BMX Steering Group, which is made up of a group of young people who are extreme sports enthusiasts.

"They are supported by the Shepton Mallet Young People's Centre detached Youth Workers Simon Howell and Karen Reeve and Area Youth Worker Andrea White, PCSO Guy Dury, and Shepton town councillor Will Dunscombe."

The dirt track was funded by SMASH (Shepton Mallet and Surrounding Hamlets) with support from Flourish Homes, Mendip Council, and Roger Penny's Plant Hire firm and Peter Barkwill from Moonshill Quarry.

Saturday's results were:

Five to seven year olds: 1 Lotty Allen; Nine years old: 1 Jack Green, 2 Sam Scriven; 12 years old: 1 Lee Harris, 2 Karen Wiltshire; 13 years old: 1 Charlie Howell, 2 Eddie O'Neal, 3 Jack Collis; 14 years old: 1Ryan Davis, 2 James Banwell; 16+ age group: 1 Mark Hamblin, 2 Jason Hamblin, 3 Ryan Allen; 18+ age group: 1 Martins Strzob; Ryan Allen from Shepton Mallet was the lucky winner of the BMX.

If anyone would like to sponsor any future events or would like any further information on becoming a member of the young people's steering group please contact Simon Howell or Karen Reeve (Youth Workers) on 01749 344344 or 07821253537.