All's Welland Good For The Whizz Kidz At Their Go-Ride Games

 

News Posted 1st September 2008

 

The Olympics have passed and now the Paralympians step up to the plate to test their metal and inspiring others to fulfil their potential and the Welland Valley Whizz Kidz are doing just that during a series of Olympiads. Dean Barnett the Club Coach Kindly provided this report.

 

Welland Valley Whizz Kids Olympic Road Race Event 1

 

With Team GB returning home from Beijing and more importantly British Cycling returning with a “shed load” of medals it was appropriate that Welland Valley Cycling Club promoted the first event of four, The Whizz Kids Olympic Road Race.

The events are part of a British Cycling / Welland Valley Whizz Kids program of activities. The Road-Race attracted 42 riders to sample the delights of bunch racing around the excellent Bruntingthorpe Go-Kart Track. The main focus of the evening was Enjoyment and Energy.

The first race on the start line was for riders aged 8yrs and under. With 18 riders taking to the start line it was decided to give the younger or less experienced riders a head start. With excellent support from parents and older competitors the young riders whizzed away from the start line. In this age group it was more noticeable the contrast in sizes of bikes and young people. From wheels the size of dinner plates to proper equipped road bikes the standard of racing was excellent. Each rider rode with great determination to cross the finish line after 8 minutes plus one lap of high energy bike riding.

All of the participants were eager to get racing, this was probably more evident in the next race for riders aged 10yrs and under. Sixteen riders had signed on and expertly pinned on their race number onto their racing jersey. Once again some riders were given a slight advantage over the more experienced riders.  It was a superb to see riders chasing down, sprinting out of the corners and using their gears to great effect. Unfortunately we had two minor crashes as riders crashed cornering at speed. Both competitors were OK with only grazed knees and elbows.
After 10 minutes and 1 lap the riders crossed the finish line after plenty of hard fought racing around the technical track.

As the sun was setting over Bruntingthorpe it was the time for the 9 remaining older riders to explode away from the start line and face 15 minutes of racing and roughly 90 corners!  Like with the previous two races certain riders were given a slight advantage. There was one spectacular crash on a tight hairpin bend as one riders pedal clipped the ground and he was catapulted sideways off the bike.  The young man suffered the trade mark grazed knee and elbow, he is true racing cyclist now! After 15minutes of racing there was some very tired looks as the riders crossed the finish line.

All of the youngsters appeared to enjoy the experience, unless the smiles were grimaces?!

To deliver these great opportunities for the youngsters it is reliant on a strong team of parents and volunteers, many thanks on this occasion to:  Gaye Taylor, Sarah Steel, Heather Barnett, Steve Young and Kevin Nicholls.  Also it was great to see the Whizz Kids and parents cheering and encouraging all of the riders.

8yrs and under                                                                  11yrs and under                                            
Position                                   
1 5. Bryn Guy 8 Lap Race Dist= 2200m                          1 44. Ross Barnett 11 Laps             

2 1. Holly Barnett 8 Laps                                                2 52. Ben Morris 11 Laps
3 4. Ryan Vicary 8 Laps                                                  3 45. Josh van Nierop 11 Laps
4 17. Sean Smith - 1 Lap                                                4 42. Louis Kilworth 11 Laps
5 6. Alex Pole - 1 Lap                                                      5 48. James Garratt 11 Laps
6 9. Alice Garratt - 1 Lap                                                 6 47. Loki Steele - 1 Lap
7 8. Amy McArragher - 1 Lap                                           7 56. Jake Cartwright - 1 Lap
8 2. Phoebe Killworth- 1 Lap                                           8 49. Kirsty Morris - 1 Lap
9 10. Thomas Pymm - 1 Lap                                            9 53. Lewis Bowen - 1 Lap
10 88. Joshua Hubbard - 1 Lap                                     10 51. Jack Roginski - 1 Lap
11 12. Thomas Kemp - 2 Laps                                       11. 46. Joe Chapman - 1 Lap 10 laps
12 3. Millie van Nierop- 2 Laps                                      12 41. Georgia Toner - 2 Laps
13 14.Hannah Stewart - 2 Laps                                    13 43. Morgan Curran - 2 Laps
14 16. Louis West - 2 Laps                                           14 54. Zoe Bowen - 2 Laps
15 15. Tyler Chapman - 2 Laps                                     15 50. Samuel Anglade - 3 Laps
16 13. Daniel Masters - 3 Laps                                     16 55. Ben Masters - 4 Laps
17 7. Annabell Haris - 5 Laps
18 11. Joshua Morris - Cheered on his sister

12yrs plus

1 89. Kieran Lucas 17 Laps Race Dist = 4675m
2 82. Dominic Toner - 1 Lap
3 87. Jake Hubbard - 1 Lap
4 81. Sophie Nicholls- 1 Lap
5 86. Katie Hubbard - 1 Lap
6 84. Matt Aders - 2 Laps
7 85. Joe Spencer - 2 Laps
8 83. Sam Bayliss - 5 Laps
9 91. Aaron Sayers - 16 Laps note - crashed on first lap

Dean Barnett

WVCC Youth Development Officer