PPYCC is proud to have been an annual host of the National Youth Omnium Series for over 15 years. This year we are hosting Round 3 on Sunday, 18th May.
This important youth track series has paved the way for many top track and road riders. Laura Kenny won the Preston Park Youth Omnium in 2007 as an U16, before going on to become the most successful British female athlete in Olympic history. But proving you don’t have to be dominant as youth rider, Tao Geoghegan Hart came 10th in U16s at Preston Park Youth Omnium in 2010 and later went on to win the Giro d’Italia in 2020 as the youngest British rider ever to win a grand tour!
What can I expect at the Preston Park Youth Omnium?
- The best U14 and U16 riders from across the region and beyond will be competing for places in the National Youth Omnium Final.
- A full race programme for U10 and U12 riders – while not part of the national series, our younger riders still need high quality racing opportunities. Provided that you have previous experience of riding track bikes then you will be very welcome and we promise a fun-packed day of racing.
- There will be five different events – 1km Time Trial, 500m Sprint, Elimination Race, Scratch Race and Points Race – with points awarded for each race and totalled up at the end for each age group, with equal prizes for boys and girls.
- A small army of PPYCC volunteers will be ready to make this a day to remember.
- A 63 acre park and gardens that family and siblings can enjoy throughout the day, plus proximity to the city centre and seafront for those who’d like to make a weekend of it.
- Racing starts at 10am, and is expected to finish at 4.30pm.
Come and race on cycling’s most historic velodrome.
Preston Park is a globally important cycling venue. Dating back to 1877 the velodrome was the first ever built in the UK and is now the oldest working velodrome in the world! The velodrome and its open air, flint-edged seating and surrounding grounds are protected by Historic England and attracted crowds of 10,000 spectators in its heyday. Today the venue plays host to thriving cycling and youth sports communities as the home to Sussex Cycle Racing League, Preston Park Youth Cycling Club and Brighton Multicultural Women’s Cycle Club, with the grass track centre also being heavily used by St Peters Cricket Club who have a large youth section.
Its listed status doesn’t prevent the sporting venue being kept up to date and recent years have seen major upgrades with new perimeter railings on the velodrome, extensive landscaping improvements to the flint seating area and the cricket pavilion is in line for a major refurbishment to bring it up to date with accessible facilities for all users of the cycling and cricket venue. With both PPYCC and St Peters Cricket Club supporting burgeoning youth memberships, this historic sporting venue is set to remain of vital importance to the future of sport in our region.
Enjoy a family day at the seaside.
Make your Youth Omnium visit a family day out to remember. You can leave the car at the venue, hop on the Number 5 bus at Preston Park and be in the town centre and seafront in just 10 minutes. See the Brighton & Hove Bus Company website for timetables.
Or you can just chill at Preston Park as the velodrome is situated within 63 acres of lawns and gardens including a rose garden, a large childrens play area, several cafes and the largest municipal rock garden in Britain. Click the image of the park below for a downloadable PDF map of the park.
Getting there and getting around
Preston Park is easily accessible being directly on the A23 which runs alongside the park. The velodrome is located from Preston Drove by car or through the park by bike or foot. The post code is BN1 6LA. Click on the map image below to find Preston Park Velodrome in Google Maps.
Useful information
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/leisure-and-libraries/parks-and-green-spaces/preston-park