Welshpool is becoming widely recognised as a formidable hub in British sport.
The normally quiet market town has been buzzing with major national sporting events basing themselves in the town this year, and there’s a lot more to come.
Last weekend saw the fourth round of the British Cross Country Motorbike series (right) take place on farmland just outside of the town, when 65 professional and club riders produced a memorable event watched by a thousand travelling spectators.
Prior to that, the town was the heart and soul of two National rallies and the biggest is yet to come in September when Welshpool stages day four of the Tour of Britain cycle race.
That event, which receives widespread international television coverage from broadcasters including Eurosport, will start from Powis Castle before doing a lap of the one-way system and heading out west.
It will bring the area the sort of marketing exposure that can’t be bought and the cumulative income from these events in 2011 will run into millions of pounds for the Welshpool area’s economy. The long term benefits could be much greater.
And with initial moves made to reintroduce the ‘Beat the Train’ race as well as a big new outdoor music festival set for September, it appears that Welshpool really does have a lot to smile about.