Olympic mountain biking
2012 Games Olympic Mountain Bike competition on 11 and 12 August 2012
The Salvation Army's Hadleigh Farm in Essex
Was chosen because it fulfills requirements as a technically challenging course. The terrain is hilly with open grass land covered by low shrubbery. The site offers some fantastic gradients for mountain biking and great viewing opportunities for spectators. The course is set against the backdrop of the 700-year-old ruins of Hadleigh Castle.
The course
Played host to the Hadleigh Farm Mountain Bike International on 31 July 2011 and will be the venue for the London 2012 Olympic Mountain Bike competition on 11 and 12 August 2012.
The event
Is held as a single race around the course with riders all starting together and the winner being declared as the first to cross the finish line. The Men’s event sees 50-60 competitors complete a distance of 40-50km (25-30 miles) and the Women’s event sees 30-40 riders complete a distance of 30-40km (20-25 miles), typically around 4-5 laps of the course are completed.
The Salvation Army
Are delighted to be working with Essex County Council and London 2012 Organising Committee on the Olympic Mountain Bike course which is situated within The Salvation Army's Hadleigh Farm.
Hadleigh Farm after the London 2012 Games
Essex County Council and The Salvation Army remain committed to delivering a lasting, beneficial legacy from the London 2012 Mountain Bike Events at Hadleigh Farm. This will involve the development of specific legacy proposals for the area – separate to the plans for the Olympic Mountain Bike Venue.
The Salvation Army has been working with Essex County Council to establish how a legacy operation could be managed alongside the farming operation. Both are resolute that three key principles are considered in the development of the legacy proposals:
1. Protection of Green Space
2. Delivery of a legacy for assorted users
3. Delivery of a Mountain Biking Legacy
1. Protection of green space
First and foremost there is a clear commitment that any developments at Hadleigh Farm will respect the environmental and historical importance of the site. The Salvation Army remains committed to maintaining its farming operation in this area. Both The Salvation Army and Essex County Council are committed to ensuring their joint proposals protect this unique part of South Essex, whilst providing the local community with plentiful opportunity to enjoy relaxing, living and working in its vicinity.
2. Delivery of a legacy for assorted users
Using the feedback received during early consultations on the Olympic Mountain Bike Venue, it is clear that the wider area (particularly Hadleigh Country Park) is used for a wide range of recreational purposes - all of which need to be thoroughly considered as legacy proposals are developed. No specific projects have been identified as yet, however the following themes are to be explored as improvements to the area are considered, covering both the area being used for the Olympic Mountain Bike Events and Hadleigh Country Park:
- “Walking”
- “Cycling”
- “Horse Riding”
- “Running”
- “Engagement with Nature”
- “Engagement with History”
- “Visitor Facilities and Parking”
- “Signage and Way Finding”
3. Delivery of a Mountain Biking Legacy
As was strongly supported throughout the consultation process, Essex County Council remains committed to retaining the course developed for the London 2012 Games and adapting it to make it suitable for public use. (The existing course at Hadleigh Farm is not currently open for general public use as it has been designed for use under event conditions and is not safe for public access). The next stage of defining the detail of the Mountain Bike Legacy is to establish which groups would use the facility in the future and how that will be managed.
The next stage
Initial feedback is welcomed on the above themes. Customers will soon have the opportunity to answer a short questionire that will be available on this website and will be posted or emailed to all those who have registered to receive the Hadleigh Farm Newsletter.