Mountain Bike Trails Scoop Top Prize

Dalby Forest's brilliant new bike trails have received yet another prestigious accolade after being named project of the year in the 2008 Yorkshire Post Business Awards. Alan Eves, the Forestry Commission’s Forest Management Director, and Chief Engineer, Martin O’Vaster, swapped their lycra biking kit for dinner jackets and bow ties to receive the award at a dinner in Leeds, attended by the Rt Hon David Cameron, Leader of the Opposition, on 19 October. Judges said that the popularity of Dalby and its contribution to the economy of North Yorkshire had swayed the vote in its favour in a fierce competition which also included York Racecourse. Opened in May 2007, the 55 kilometre sustainable trail network has been acclaimed as the best in England by the influential Mountain Bike Rider magazine. The £400,000 project was backed by the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund. The investment was a key element in a £4m project to create world class visitor facilities in Dalby. A new £2.1m eco-friendly visitor centre was also unveiled last year, which scooped the Prime Minster’s Award for Better Public Buildings. In another boost, British Cycling has announced that it is working with the Forestry Commission and Yorkshire Forward to bring the 2010 Mountain Bike World Cup to the venue. www.forestry.gov.uk