It’s all downhill for a young mountain biker from Penyffordd in Flintshire thanks to a recent monetary donation from housebuilder Bellway.
With its Summers Bridge development taking shape on Bayley Road in Deeside, the leading national housebuilder was delighted to support the local youngster with a financial donation towards upcoming race entry fees.
For 14-year-old James O’Hare, downhill mountain biking is his life’s passion and he has ambitious plans to be a professional rider competing at international and World Cup level one day.
Currently, in between racing nationally all over the UK, including at the World Cup Trail at Fort William in Scotland, he practises at One Giant Leap in Llangollen, Revolution Bike Park near Oswestry and Farmer Johns in Stockport and races for a team called Ridgehill Race Syndicate who he was invited to join this season.
Sponsorship is essential as downhill mountain biking is an expensive sport. Racing at national level costs around £100 per race and regional races are around £50 each, bikes, clothing and equipment cost thousands of pounds to purchase and maintain, plus there are additional associated travel and coaching costs.
James’s bike is no exception. A highly robust Mondraker Summum Carbon R, it is designed to withstand the extreme nature of the sport that includes challenging downhill tracks with unforgiving features such as jumps, drops and berms.
He said: “Riding and racing is my life. I absolutely love it, the challenge of racing on some of the most difficult tracks in the UK and across the world is amazing. When I ride nothing else matters and it gives me a feeling like no other. I have butterflies at the start gate but when I’m going down the trail I’m completely focused and hear nothing but the wind, my tyres and the odd cheer, air horn and whistle.
“I am so grateful to Bellway and to all of my sponsors for their donations. The sense of achievement when I compete and do well at this level is like nothing else and being able to consistently compete encourages me to improve, take on bigger challenges and get faster.”
James’s Dad Andy O’Hare added: “I used to take James to the local woods and trail centres on second hand bikes; he got into riding from there and has never looked back. He’s fully committed, and we are always grateful for all support such as the donation from Bellway as it enables him to remain on track with his dream of becoming a pro rider one day.”
Sales director at Bellway North West, Jenny Bell, added: “We were so impressed when James approached us; he is so enthusiastic and has worked so hard to develop his passion for downhill mountain bike racing that we happy to contribute and wish him every success in the future.”
Summers Bridge is a beautiful development of high quality new build three and four bedroom homes in Deeside, Flintshire.
