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£500,000 tourism coup thanks to major sporting event

THE North East will net £500,000 this summer when the National Cycling Championships rolls into the region for the very first time.

Now in its fifth year, The Northern Rock Cyclone weekend will run from the 24 to 26 June and will now have the added bonus of a top level cycling race on the Sunday.

The event is expected to attract up to 8000 visitors and it will be broadcast on television.

Peter Harrison, Northern Rock weekend Cyclone organiser, said: “I’m ecstatic that it will be coming to the region it’s the first time it’s ever been up here.

“It’s a massive coup for the region, I think the visitor spend is going to be very, very great and then it’s the knock on effect, because it then highlights the region for those who have never seen it before and they might be tempted to come back up here and spend again.”

The men’s and women’s races are 64 and 122.5 miles long respectively, and they will start and finish in the Village of Stamfordham.

Simon Hall, Northern Rock, Assistant Director, Corporate Communications, added: “It’s a great event for the North East, It’s like a mini Great North Run so having so many people coming to the North East to participate in the cyclone but also raising the awareness of the North east through certain tourism opportunities will be great for the region.”

Local tourism outlets are also celebrating the announcement and many hotels and bed and breakfasts have already enjoyed an upward surge in their bookings.

Jonathon Evans, Owner of Bay Horse Inn in Stamfordham, said: “It’s really going to have a positive impact as it will bring new people into the village, bringing more revenue.”

He added: “All our rooms are full that weekend which is great for a small business.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .