National cycle championships to be held at Bradford sports facility

Wyke Sports Village, which opened last year, will host the National Youth Circuit Championships on July 8 – bringing some of the country’s best young cyclists to the city.

And Bradford Council hopes it is just one of many events to be hosted at the £6m facility, which opened in September.

The authority has submitted plans to host around six large events at Wyke Sports Village each year.

Built on the site of the former Wyke Manor School, the village is the first of three planned “sports hubs” in the District – with others planned for Myra Shay and Marley in Keighley.

Wyke Sports Village is home to a large cycle track, as well as a full sized floodlit 3G football pitch, three grass pitches, a pavilion with changing rooms and community space that can accommodate 250 people.

Multi-million pound Wyke Sports Village officially opened

The close loop track replaces the one that was lost when Richard Dunn sports centre was shut in 2019 – although the new track is seen as a huge upgrade.

It is made up of multiple different routes, inclines, and even a “cobbled” Pavé section.

The Pave section (Image: newsquest)

When the plans for the sports village were approved, one condition was that any major sporting events, attracting large crowds, would have to end by 1pm on Sundays.

The Council has now submitted an application to amend this condition to allow events to run later on Sundays up to six times a year.

The application says: “The new sporting facilities have the opportunity to host significant national sporting competitions which brings with it great 'kudos' to the city of Bradford along with visitors and potential benefits to the local economy.”

Asked about why the application to change the conditions was submitted, a Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We have submitted a planning application to extend the operating hours of Wyke Sports Village on a Sunday following an application by British Cycling to hold the National Youth Circuit Champs at Wyke on July 8.

“The original application stated that events should end by 1pm on Sundays and bank holidays. This would prevent the site from being used for prestigious sporting events like this.

“The new application is for up to six events a year and will be a positive addition to the new facilities for local residents and the wider sports community.”

At the official opening of Wyke Sports Village, Bob Howden, President of British Cycling, said: “(This facility) is the next level. I’m sure we’ll get many more champions from it.”