Youth and Kids Festive 50 Challenges 2025

Back for 2025 are our Festive 50 challenges for youth and kids on Sunday 28th December.

For younger pedallers and balance bikers aged 3-10yrs the challenge is to complete 50 laps of our 250m inner track either as an individual rider or in a team of up to 4 riders.

For older youth riders aged 8-16yrs, the challenge is to complete 50kms or 112 laps on the main 450m track on their road bike.

Our Festive 50 riders will attempt to ride their distance in one go with only very limited stopping time to rest and refuel. Starting at 10am, all kids and youth riders must be complete by 12:30pm to allow the adults to get underway.

In the last 2 years, riders in these challenges have raised just over £12,500 to support young riders less fortunate than themselves which has been used to support riders to come with their schools, community groups, bike maintenance for bikes to be used to travel to the velodrome and holiday club places.

It doesn’t take many donations/sponsors to make a big difference:

£2.40 subsidises the cost of a session for a child from a less advantaged background

£6 supports a local child to come for a cycling session to learn to cycle or improve

£20 supports a child from a less advantaged background to come to holiday club 

£25 provides a coach to teach a group of children to learn to cycle

£60 enables a group of up to 15 school children to come for a track taster session 

£100 supports a child from a less advantaged background to come to holiday club for a week

£600 enables a group of up to 15 school children to come for a term of weekly cycling sessions

£1,800 enables a group of up to 15 school children to come for a whole year of term time weekly cycling sessions

Please give generously to support these young riders braving the elements between Christmas and New Year.  Thank you.

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Next up is Eva Unsworth aged 13

Why are you riding the Festive 50 Challenge?

"I've been riding at HHV for 10 years now and want to support it so others can ride here too"

Our next rider is Mila Unsworth aged 13

What is your motivation for riding?

"I love HHV and all the coaches!"

Our next rider is Jacob Matthews aged 13

Why are you taking on this challenge?

"My name is Jacob Matthews, I am 13 years old and cycling is the best thing I do. At Herne Hill I've made friends, been coached by the best coaches, and massively improved my track and road cycling ability in the last year. I want to enter as last year I achieved a time of 1 hour 34 minutes and this year I want to improve again, so by entering I can both help fundraise and improve. Hope to see you there!"

Our next rider coming in is Christian Quinn aged 15

Why are you riding the challenge this year?

"I’ve been riding at Herne Hill for eight years and would you like to help the velodrome continuing helping and encouraging as many people as possible to cycle."

Our next rider is Sophia Matthews aged 11

Why do you want to raise money this way?

"I am Sophia Matthews, I am 11 years old. I love cycling because I get to socialise with my friends and be active at the same time. I Love Herne Hill because the coaches are friendly and kind. Cycling allows me to let go of all the stress I feel at school."

This next rider is Kitty Belton-Owen aged 15 (the photo might have been a year or two ago!)

Why are you riding this challenge?

"My name is kitty I have been cycling for roughly three years at Herne Hill velodrome and riding for VCL. I love cycling because it allows me to push myself but also have fun and make friends and memories to last a life , I want to help raise money as I think it's super important that everyone gets a chance to be able to cycle or to give it a go. I hope rides like the festive 50 can help to inspire other kids to give cycling a go."

Our next rider is Lukas Beanland, aged 9

Why are you entering this challenge this year?

"My name is Lukas, I’m 9 years old and a proud member of VCL. I love cycling and one day I would like to ride in the tour du France."

Next up is Jacob Day aged 13

Why are you riding?

“I love the Velodrome and riding there with my friends, I get to do both of those things whilst raising money for others to be able to do the same!”

Our next rider is Jack Johnston, aged 12

Why do you want to ride in this challenge?

'I have loved cycling from an early age and, having now joined the HHV and VCL family I feel that I have now found my ‘sporting home’. I find track cycling exhilarating and love riding as a solo or within a team/group. Being a newbie and somewhat of a novice, I am keen to get as many miles and as much experience ‘under my belt’ as a build my strength, endurance and skills. I’m hoping to receive my very first road bike for Christmas and I’d love to be able to participate in this great challenge as my very first activity on my road racing journey.'

Our next rider is Maxwell Nelson, aged 12

Why are you taking part in this challenge?

'I like to hang out with my friends at the velodrome and this is an opportunity to work with them to inspire other kids, create memories and raise money to improve the Herne Hill Velodrome facilities.'

Next up is Malcolm Nelson, aged 10

Why are you riding this year?

'I would like to spend more time with my friends and raise money for the velodrome to allow more kids to have better opportunities to cycle.'

Our next rider is Marcus Nelson, aged 10

Why would you like to ride the challenge?

'I would like to raise a lot of money for the velodrome and spend more time riding my bike'

Our next rider is Milly Malthouse aged 16

Milly is one of our young track coaches here at Herne Hill Velodrome and assists with some of our youth sessions.  In addition to fundraising she will be assisting us as a riding coach on the day. 

Our next rider this year is Sophie Malthouse aged 12

Why do you want to ride this year?

“I really love coming to the velodrome to ride on the track with my friends, so I think it’s great if we can raise some money to help other kids to have the opportunity to do it too"

Next up is Sho Baty, aged 10

Why do you want to enter the challenge?

"This isn’t just about completing a goal—it’s about using my effort and dedication to support a cause that truly matters to me."

Our next rider is Felix Chambers aged 10

Why are you riding the Festive 50?

"I want to ride the Festive 50 at Herne Hill Velodrome to spend time with the friends I have made there."

Our next rider for 2025 is Oscar Chambers aged 13

Why are you riding this year?

"I love cycling and Herne Hill Velodrome is like a second home to me. I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas than riding there!"

Next up is Luke Tetlow aged 10

Why are you riding this year?

"To raise money for a great cause."

Our next rider is Dylan Tetlow aged 12

Why do you want to enter the challenge this year?

"To raise money for a great cause"

Next up is Benedict Parry aged 13

Why are you entering the challenge this year?

"I'm Benedict, and am 13 years old. I love riding my bike and think this is something that others should have the opportunity to do. Herne Hill Velodrome provides a wonderful and safe place to do this, and hope we can raise lots to make this possible."

Our next rider is Josh Halfpenny aged 12

Our next riders is Zac Blackwell, aged 12

Why are you entering the challenge?

"I’m Zac. I am 12 years old. I love cycling. I look forward to cycling at The Herne Hill Velodrome every week. The coaches are amazing. It is a very good way to socialise to make friends and stay fit. Sponsoring me will help more children come to enjoy the velodrome like I do."

Next up is Daniel Hoelder, aged 10

Why do you want to enter this challenge?

"I really enjoy cycling at the velodrome and want to raise money to support this great place"

Next up this year is Eric Cassidy aged 11

Why are you entering the Festive 50 this year?

"I have loved riding my bike since I was very young and I think my love for cycling has come from HHV. I would like to participate and support the velodrome as I think it would be great to help more people experience the joys of cycling and especially at HHV because it has such a wonderful community for both people who wish to race competitively and those who just want to have fun riding their bikes."

Our next rider is: Sam Pickering aged 15

Why are you entering the challenge this year?

"I have been coming to HHV since I was 9. I live and go to school locally and want to encourage as many kids as possible to come to the velodrome and experience cycling."

Our next rider is:  Jack Joseph aged 9

Why do you want to take part in the challenge?

"The velodrome has become my second home. I love going there and doing all sorts of sessions, whether it's track riding with my club, VCL or off-road sessions or crit skills in the Summer. I would like to give something back to a place I love."

Next up, Jasper Shapton aged 14

Why do you want to ride this event? 

"HHV has been important in my development as a cyclist and in general. I and my friends here would be very grateful for your donation."

Welcome to the first of our Festive 50 riders: Timo Shapton, aged 11

Why do you want to enter the event?  The velodrome is a special place to me and I’d like everyone to donate to support its future.