53 entrants make Skate Jam a success

BMX riders, inline skaters and skateboarders of all ages competed all day at Horsham Skate Park, with a huge crowd of spectators cheering on the competitors throughout the day.

The event is run by a group of young people who regularly use the park, and is organised by Sam Richardson, 20, from Horsham.

He said: “The Skate Jam is a day where it is my chance to give back to the people that come here, and give them a chance to show off their skills, because most people would not be able to do it.

“They can enjoy themselves, have a laugh and show their friends, parents and grandparents - everyone who is there - what they can do and how important the skate park is to the skaters of Horsham.”

The Jam raised an impressive £300 from entry fees, with the money going towards the cost of running the jam, prizes and repairing ramps.

Sam, who has been using the skate park for about 10 years, thanked the volunteers who helped him to organise the competition.

He said: “It went really well. We were really lucky with the weather, and so many people came to watch.

“We had a group of 20 volunteers that came down at 8.30am, and all the kids who go to the skate park came down to help us set up.

“There was a lot of people willing to come and give me a hand, I kept being asked if I needed this or needed that.”

Sam and his fellow organisers have been running the event for three years and plan to do it again next year.

See Thursday’s County Times for a Skate Jam picture special.