For more information on the Tour of Margaret River: www.tourofmargaretriver.com
The Department of Sport and Recreation’s latest round of funding is helping regional areas enjoy world-class sporting events and increase local participation.
Local MP Terry Redman said that included $11,000 in funding support for the Satalyst Tour of Margaret River, which starts today.
“Regional West Australians have limited opportunities to experience major, high level sporting competitions because they are often in Perth,” Mr Redman said.
“The Country Sport Enrichment Scheme (CSES) offers support and assistance to take international, national and approved state league competitions and contests to regional Western Australia.”
The CSES funded WestCycle $11,000 to carry out a series of community engagement activities around the Satalyst Tour of Margaret River cycling event from November 5 to 7.
One of largest road racing events in Australia, the Satalyst Tour has a unique professional and amateur format that gives club riders a chance to compete alongside riders from professional international tours.
“Not only do locals get to see top flight sporting events, there’s also the chance for sport development and community engagement around these events,” Mr Redman said.
“A young cyclist going to a workshop and getting tips from a professional athlete might just be what they need to put them on the path to something bigger.
“Someone trying a sport for the first time through the CSES community programs might foster a life-long love for that sport and they might contribute to it as an athlete or an official.”
The CSES money is going towards public events – called Chase Your Dreams – which includes a club ride and coaching session with former professional cyclist Scott Sunderland, a presentation from Sunderland and young Orica Green Edge cyclist Damien Howson and community presentations in Bunbury, Margaret River, Augusta and Nannup from triathletes Ryan Baillie and Katie Duffield on goal setting and the Road to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sport and Recreation Minister Mia Davies said the funding was also a unique opportunity to utilise influential elite sportspeople to help develop sports in country centres and increase participation.
“That goes for those who aspire to become elite athletes through to parents and their kids getting out and riding on the weekends together,” she said.