The UK’s biggest cycling race is coming back to Robin Hood County on Wednesday 6 September 2023. To celebrate, the county council has launched some great competitions for primary school children aged 4-11 years old.
Design the starting flag, winner’s trophy and winner’s jersey – sponsored by Arc Partnership and Scape.
Young people have the chance to design the starting flag, winner’s trophy and, new this year, winner’s jersey which will mark the start and finish of the Tour of Britain, when some of the world’s top cyclists will race through parts of Nottinghamshire.
The three overall winners will have their designs custom-made and will get the incredible opportunity to wave their flag to officially start the race at Sherwood Forest and present their trophy and jersey to the winner of the Nottinghamshire stage in Newark-on-Trent.
Short Story Competition – supported by Inspire
Budding young authors are being encouraged to take pen to paper to write a story in 500 words or less about a cycling adventure. Not only will the winner have their story professionally designed but it will also be read out over the race PA System on the day to the thousands of people expected to attend.
School challenge – sponsored by Veolia
Schools across Nottinghamshire have also been invited to rise to the challenge and ‘Re-invent the Wheel’. The County Council is asking classes to get creative with materials pupils can recycle from home or school to create a sculpture, display or land art. The winning class will receive a prize courtesy of Notts Outdoors, the outdoor education and environmental service run by the county council. Entries for the ‘Re-invent the Wheel’ competition have until midday on Friday 8 September to be submitted.
Entry forms for all the competitions can be downloaded from the council’s Tour of Britain website www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/tobcompetitions but you need to get your skates on as entries close at midday on Friday 14 July 2023.
Councillor John Cottee, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “It’s time for young people to get creative. We’re celebrating the biggest free to attend cycling event returning to our county and we want young people to be a part of it. We’re looking for colourful designs, imaginative stories and classroom displays as part of our five exciting competitions.
“Nothing can beat the electrifying atmosphere of the crowds spurring the cyclists on and these competition prizes offer a fantastic opportunity for the winners to enjoy the roar of the crowd, see world class cyclists in action and be part of the spectacle.
“I would urge teachers and parents to download our schools pack and make use of the ideas to promote the race in their local communities.
“I am really excited to see what our young people create – good luck to all of our entrants!”
Dan Maher, Managing Director of Arc Partnership said: “We’re delighted to once again be jointly sponsoring the Tour of Britain schools pack with SCAPE, which will help to encourage children across Nottinghamshire to get involved in the UK’s biggest cycling event.
“Last year’s competition entries were great, and we’re excited to see the colourful designs that young people come up with for 2023.”
Steve Newman, General Manager, Nottinghamshire, Veolia UK, said: “We are proud to be sponsoring Re-invent the Wheel, where young minds unite creativity and sustainability to transform items they can find around the home into sculptures, displays or land art.
“Through this competition we are inspiring a generation to see the beauty and potential in repurposed resources, all whilst cheering on the Tour of Britain!”
