Ballymacash pupils get on their bikes

FRIDAY March 23 was the final day of the Big Pedal and pupils from Nursery to P7 in Ballymacash Primary School turned out in force to celebrate.

Ballymacash is a Sustrans Bike It school, encouraging cycling to school and safe cycling through a variety of fun activities and developing skills. The Big Pedal is a virtual cycle race organised by Sustrans and schools from across the UK have taken part including 24 from Northern Ireland.

Ballymacash has been having a great time encouraging pupils, parents and teachers to cycle into school over the past three weeks to keep them among the top ten primary schools in Northern Ireland.

For some children this is their first time cycling to school, others have been cycling in over the past few months with the encouragement of staff and Sustrans Bike It Officer Pamela Grove-White.

Pamela was so pleased to see so many bikes when she visited the school. “It’s great to see the children so involved and happy, ready to talk about their journey to school and so many we could hardly fit them into the camera shot,” she said.

Principal Stephen Gray said the school was delighted with the number of children and parents who had taken part in the Big Pedal and Sustrans Bike It events.