Stow Pump Track was officially opened on Friday 16 May, celebrating the hard work of Stow Community Trust and volunteers who worked for five years to deliver a community sports facility for the area.
The Leader of Scottish Borders Council, Euan Jardine carried out the opening. As part of the day Stow Cycle Hub supported a bike bus to school in the morning and a bike bus to the pump track later in the day.
Scottish Borders Council’s Sports Development team hosted coaching sessions on the track and there was other bike activities on offer in the park before a demonstration by professional riders.
The track was completed in December 2024, with the help of a £55,094 award from sportscotland through the Cycling Facilities Fund. Funding was also given by Scottish Borders Council, Foundation Scotland’s EDF Longpark Community Fund and SSE Renewables Toddleburn Community Fund towards the total cost of £175,944.
From the first day of opening the track has been busy with people of all ages and abilities honing their cycling skills from Stow and surrounding communities. In a rural area the facility has been well received with work to get local schools and cycling groups using the track already having positive results. There has been a huge impact on cycling activity in Stow already and great feedback from the young people using the track. More children are cycling to school so they can go to the track before and after school.
The track was designed by Velosolutions and built by local company Bikescape. Leading up to the opening event, three weeks of free coaching sessions were delivered by Bex Baroana and Chloe Taylor of Gowaan Kids Club and were attended by over 40 children and young people. The coaching benefitted riders of all abilities, giving children the confidence to ride the pump track for the first time and others more advanced skills to progress their riding as some of the participants explained
"I like the Pump Track because I can improve my skills and whenever I learn a new trick I feel like I have achieved something big which feels great." Hazel, age 11.
"The Pump Track has given my daughters the confidence and independence to try new tricks and explore their capabilities in a way I never expected. Most importantly, I've watched them overcome fears, pick themselves up after falls, and celebrate their progress together.
"It's become much more than just a place to ride bikes—it's where they're learning life skills." Niome, parent
The investment from sportscotland comes from the £8million Cycling Facilities Fund, which aims to build on the growing interest in cycling by developing a network of facilities across the country and deliver a tangible benefit from the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and Scotland. It has been made possible through a £4million commitment from Scottish Government and £4million from sportscotland through National Lottery funds.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said:
“It is fantastic to see Stow Pump Track officially opened, and already so well used by people of all ages and abilities. This is a significant moment for sport in the area.
“The volunteers and Stow Community Trust have demonstrated a real commitment to ensuring that more people in the area will have an opportunity to become physically active and connected to their local community."
