Youngster wins bike race flag competition

Lucy and her friends celebrate with the winning flag design

A youngster from Castleton can’t stop smiling after winning the Tour of Britain ‘Design a Flag’ competition.

As world, Olympic and commonwealth cycling champions head to Rochdale this Saturday for the bike race, the cheering crowds will be waving flags designed by 8-year-old Lucy Grogan.

Lucy, from St Edward’s CE Primary School, Castleton, was told she was the winner of the competition on her first day back at school, and she and her family will now be VIP guests at the weekend race.

The competition, organised by Rochdale Borough Council and sponsored by the Council’s local education partner, Inspiredspaces, asked children from schools across the borough to design a flag that captured the spirit of the race and the fact that it was coming to Rochdale.

Lucy’s colourful design showing the sun shining down on Rochdale Town Hall, was judged by Council officers and Inspiredspaces to be the best and it has now been reproduced on 5,000 flags.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, Cabinet Member for Development, went along to the Hanover Street school to congratulate Lucy and after meeting her he commented: “We had almost 200 entries for the competition and the standard was really high but Lucy’s stood out; it was so colourful and really captured the pride we feel in the Tour coming to Rochdale.

“This is a real coup for our town to be hosting the start of this world class race; it’s really exciting. Thanks to TV coverage millions will see what Rochdale has to offer. With the race starting in the town centre and outside the Town Hall we’ve got the chance to showcase our heritage and as the cyclists head out over Ashworth Moor, people will see our spectacular landscape. It promises to be a fantastic event. I urge people to come out and support the cyclists and get behind Rochdale.”

Claire Butler, General Manager of Inspiredspaces, said: “This is a really prestigious event and it’ll be great for Lucy to see her design on the thousands of flags being waved along the race route. We received lots of good designs, but we were particularly impressed with Lucy’s which we felt said the most about the race coming to Rochdale.”

Proud head teacher at St Edward’s, Lynne Coxell, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Lucy’s design has won and she is thrilled. She can’t stop smiling.”