Go-Ride Works: Rider Profile - Peter Mitchell
VC Jubilee Cycling Club is a Go-Ride Clubmark accredited club which puts its young riders at the centre of the development process - an approaching that is paying off in a big way with the club's latest young hopeful, Peter Mitchell.
Peter had always enjoyed cycling since he was very young but his serious interest began in the 2002, when at 12 when he joined VC Jubilee Cycling Club, the Youth Development section of Brighton Excelsior CC, and participated in the club's Saturday morning mountain bike rides over the South Downs and skill sessions from its HQ based at Adur Outdoor Activities Centre in Shoreham-by-Sea. The cycling club coaches saw a natural talent and encouraged him to race at the Preston Park track meetings held during the summer months. He started racing during summer 2003 and finished the year 2nd in the under 14 category.
Summer 2004 was Peter's first full season and he rode at Preston Park finishing the year winning the under 14 category and, amid riders up to 2 years older, winning the club Roy Humphrey Memorial Trophy awarded to the outstanding juvenile rider of the year. During 2004 he also rode in 4 rounds of the National Youth Circuit Series, finishing in 8th position for his age group. This series is run at venues all over the country with the best 5 results from 8 events counting. With only 4 events entered his final position of 8th is an achievement he is proud of. Peter also competed in a number of other national ranking events finishing the year with 44 BCF ranking points, which put him as the 8th ranked rider in the BCF national rankings for his age category.
Towards the end of the summer of 2004 Peter began to ride in the adult category, competing in a number of category 3 and 4 senior events and, on more than one occasion, finished in the top 10 of a field of approximately 50.
During the winter of 2004 he rode in the London Cyclo-Cross League. This consists of 13 rounds with the best 7 results counting for the final positions. Peter finished the season in 4th place in the under 16 category. As a result of his efforts, in December 2004, Peter was awarded a place on the Talent Team, taking one of 10 places offered following a selection process that started by testing 3,000 riders in the East and South East regions.
During 2005 he rode the Preston Park Track Cycling league, riding in the senior category and finishing the season in 2nd place. He also rode the National Youth Circuit series as a first year under 16 finishing in 11th position and the National Track Omnium Series, also as a first year under 16, finishing in 12th position.
Notwithstanding Peter's obvious natural talent, his success is due, in no small part, to the nurturing and supportive environment of VC Jubilee, which provides a perfect introduction into all types of cycling. The first cycling club to achieve Go-Ride Clubmark status, VC Jubilee know a thing or two about how to engage young riders and offer them the very best opportunities to train, compete or just plain ride their bikes. For more information on VC Jubilee, go to www.vcjubilee.co.uk.
