May
Not Long Now for Le Tour de Yorkshire 2018
Millions of spectators will line the route for the four-day men’s race and two-day women’s race which run between Thursday 3 May – Sunday 6 May.
The full schedule and race timings can be viewed online now at letour.yorkshire.com/timings
Over 2.2 million people stood roadside last year to cheer on these two wheeled titans. Yorkshire knows how to support a bike race and Welcome to Yorkshire as an organisation strongly promotes these events. This kind of support just isn’t seen in most races in the cycling calendar. Secondly, the terrain. Yorkshire is as beautiful as it is brutal and the riders know that taking part in the Tour de Yorkshire will be rough and rewarding in equal measure.
Cyclists want a challenge and Yorkshire provides that in abundance. As Aqua Blue Sport rider Matt Brammeier summed up quite perfectly; “Without pain and suffering we would be nothing and life would get pretty boring. [The Tour de Yorkshire] provided a fair share for me this weekend but I bloody loved every minute.”
For the women taking part in the two-day Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race, there are other aspects of huge significance. Most important of all is the parity that the race brings. The race takes place on the same roads that the men tackle. The race has one of the largest prize pots in women’s cycling and it gets the same, full television coverage that the men’s race does – exposure that is crucial for riders, teams and sponsors alike.
The 2017 event was particularly enthralling viewing as a world class field including Olympic Road Race champion, Anna van der Breggen, lit up the roads from Tadcaster, through the Yorkshire Dales. The finishing podium was made up of a two-time World Champion, Giorgia Bronzini and American pocket rocket Coryn Rivera. However, the top spot was reserved for someone much closer to home. The Yorkshire flags in Harrogate were waved all that bit more vigorously than usual as the county’s very own hero, Lizzie Deignan, spectacularly sprung a solo attack with 15km to go and powered her way to victory.
“The finish was so special and so surreal and it meant so much to me to receive such great support,” Deignan said afterwards. “It was incredible and I’m struggling to get my head around it. This is up there with the biggest wins of my career, definitely.”
This year sees both races move into new ground; as the Asda Women’s race doubles in length to become a two-day race and the men’s race also gains an extra day, taking it from three to four.
From a racing perspective, this is exciting as it gives both races more time to develop and it presents the stage planners with more chances to create truly spectacular stages.
From a fans perspective, it gives more people more opportunities to see their cycling heroes and allows for more of Yorkshire’s remarkable scenery and brutal climbs to be showcased too. On top of this, 50 per cent of the host towns for this year are first time hosts, with Barnsley, Halifax, Ilkley and Richmond joining Beverley, Doncaster, Leeds and Scarborough in welcoming this year’s race.
Voluntary Action Calderdale AGM
VAC (Voluntary Action Calderdale) invite you to attend the 2018 Annual General Meeting which is to be held at the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre on Wednesday 2 May, 4:00pm-6:00pm.
There have been some major changes to the Voluntary and Community Sector over the past year and this meeting will allow you to find out more about the new Voluntary Sector Infrastructure Alliance which is a partnership between six organisations, made up of four providers and two commissioning bodies, working together and sharing skills to benefit voluntary and community sector groups working in Calderdale:
- Voluntary Action Calderdale (VAC)
- Sector Support Calderdale (North Bank Forum)
- West Yorkshire Community Accounting Service (WYCAS)
- Locality
- Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group
- Calderdale Council
To confirm attendance, please email info@cvac.org.uk of visit the Eventbrite page.
fairandfunky Fair Trade Conference for Primary Schools
On Friday 18 May at Halifax Minster will be the fairandfunky Fairtrade Conference for Primary schools.
The fairandfunky Fairtrade Conference brings together Primary Schools from across Calderdale to celebrate World Fair Trade Day. The conference will ignite enthusiasm and interest in both pupils and teachers to maintain awareness and understanding of Fairtrade and how it can be taught within busy classrooms.
Interactive workshops involving creative arts, drama, and real life stories, from fairandfunky, Fair Grounds, Fair Connections and Suma Wholefoods will take delegates on a Fairtrade Adventure around the world and discover how to take a break with Fairtrade!
The conference is supported by The Fairtrade Foundation and Eco-Schools, and will help schools progress on both the Fairtrade Schools Award and ‘Eco-Schools’ journey. During lunch delegates will be able to enjoy networking opportunity with sponsors and workshop providers and shop in the ethical marketplace. The event will close with certificate presentations from Holly Lynch MP.
Bird Walk and Survey at Cromwell Bottom
Join Mike Henshaw and members of the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group (CBWG) outside the cabin at Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve on Saturday 21 April, 9.45am for a 2-hour walk (about 2 miles on easy paths) to observe and identify birds on the Reserve.
The walk is FREE, but donations to CBWG would be welcome. Refreshments will be available at the end of the walk.
Contact cromwellbottom@gmail.com for further information.
There will also be similar walks on Saturday 19 May, Saturday 16 June, Saturday 21 July and Saturday 18 August.
Also NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 1st Annual General Meeting of Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group will be held at the Mulberry Suite, Brighouse Sixth Form College HD6 1AY at 7.30pm on Wednesday 25 April 2018.
Staying Well – Tea, Cake and Funding Opportunities at Brighouse Methodist Church
Find out what Staying Well can offer you – now working with individuals or groups 18+.
On Wednesday 2 May, 2:00pm-3:30pm at Brighouse Methodist Church, enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake and see how new funding is available to help groups and activities in the Brighouse and Rastrick area.
There will be details of the funding and how to apply.
For more information contact Rachel on 01422 392708 or email Rachel.swaby@calderdale.gov.uk
Historical Talk with Maria Glot at Rastrick Library
Join Maria Glot for a talk on Saltaire Village at Rastrick Library.
Friday 11 may 2018 – 7pm
£5 per ticket with drinks and nibbles provided.
Maria lives in Saltaire and has worked in the tourist industry for many years and is famous for being appointed Bradford District’s first Tourism Officer in 1980. She was instrumental in training the first Blue Badge Guides in Yorkshire. Her collection of fascinating facts and anecdotes bring Saltaire history to life.
Bookings now being taken at Rastrick library or by calling 01484 714858
Go Up Wainhouse Tower on Easter Monday!
On Easter Monday, 2 April, why not climb the 403 steps of the internal spiral staircase of Wainhouse Tower to take in the fantastic views from this fabulously ornate 77 metre (253 foot) high Victorian chimney!
Wainhouse Tower is open from 11am to 4pm (last ascent 3.30pm) on the following dates in 2018:
- Easter Monday 2 April
- May Day Monday 7 May
- Spring Bank Monday 28 May
- August Bank Monday 27 August
Prices are Adult £3; Children & Adult Passport to Leisure Holders (PPL) £2.50; Child PPL £2; Family ticket ( 2 Adult & 2 Children ) £10.
For further information please contact Dawn Mitchell on 07540 674307 or email dawn.mitchell@calderdale.gov.uk.
For more on the history of the Tower, see: History of Wainhouse Tower. A 360° view from Wainhouse Tower by Joby Catto from Anti Limited. This gives a preview of the views from the top of the tower.
Sure Start Children’s Centres Summer Newsletter
Sure Start Children’s Centres, North Halifax Partnership have published the summer newsletter which includes information about the family learning courses that are taking place April – June 2018, along with the accredited courses on offer. It also includes their What’s On Guides, which shows the weekly groups on offer across the Children’s Centres and services provided by partner agencies. The newsletter can be downloaded here.
This has also been uploaded to the website, along with a booking form. To book onto the courses you can either complete the booking form electronically on the website or contact the Family Learning Team on 01422 266197.
Please note when you visit the website, there is still the Spring 2018 newsletter and booking form available, as there is a course running into April. To access the newsletters and booking forms you can click directly on this link.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to either contact the Family Learning Team directly on 01422 266197 or alternatively Core Services on 01422 251090.
Perspectives on Patterns at Bankfield Museum
Opening at Bankfield Museum on Saturday 10 February will be an exhibition ‘Interpretations of Calderdale Museums Pattern Book Collection’ by the Textile Art Group. Discover intricate details, long forgotten patterns and learn more about the history of the textile industry. The exhibition will include art works created by the Textile Art Group inspired by this fascinating collection.
Members of the Textile Art Group will be in the Link Gallery demonstrating a number of different crafts and talking about their work. Free, drop in activity for all ages.
Other activities around this exhibition which continues until 2 June include;
Through my Sketchbooks with Vivienne Brown
Saturday 17 March, 1.30pm to 4pm
Bookmaking with Helen Smith & Joan Burnip
Saturday 24 March, 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4pm
Needlepunch Felt & Fibre Painting with Jackie Ford and Denise Teed
Saturday 14 April, 11am to 2pm
Halifax is a Start or Finish Location for the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire
Halifax has been chosen as one of the eight host locations for the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire, meaning a stage of the race will start or finish in the town!
The stages for the newly expanded fourth edition will begin or end in:
Barnsley (South Yorkshire)
Beverley (East Yorkshire)
Doncaster (South Yorkshire)
Halifax (Calderdale)
Ilkley (Bradford)
Leeds (West Yorkshire)
Richmond (North Yorkshire)
Scarborough (North Yorkshire)
Organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) revealed that the newly expanded four-day men’s race will take place between 3-6 May. The Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire – which is doubling in size from one to two days – will be held over 3-4 May.
The third edition of the Tour de Yorkshire took place this April and saw the race go from strength to strength once again. A record 2.2 million spectators lined the route and generated £64 million for the Yorkshire economy. The action was also beamed live in 180 countries and attracted 9.7 million global TV viewers on Eurosport and ITV alone.
Next year’s Tour will once again see the return of the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride sportive and give the chance for Tour Makers to volunteer on the race route and help welcome the millions of spectators.
The full 2018 race route will be unveiled on Tuesday 5 December 2017 – this announcement will include exact start and finish locations and the distance and profile of each stage.
