British Junior & Youth Track Championships

 

August 19-24, Newport (Wales)

Larry Hickmott reports & pictures

 

It was an action packed day on the third day of the British Cycling National Junior and Youth Track Championships in Newport (Wales). Christian Lyte, double 2007 World Champion upset the endurance camp as the World Champion sprinter was too fast for them after a hard and fast Junior Scratch race. Sam Harrison won his second Gold medal of the championships in the Under 16 Boys Points race in a classy display that augers well for the future of this Welsh rider whilst Halesowen rider Jessica Booth was only a few tenths off Nicole Cooke’s 1999 record in the Under 16 Women’s Pursuit.

 

The day also saw the beginning of the Junior Women’s Pursuit and World Silver medallist Jessica Varnish is on course to add the Junior title to the Under 16 one she won last year although this years Under 16 winner Rebecca James may well cause an upset as there is little between them.

 

Under 16 Womens Pursuit, 200 metres

 

Left: Jessica Booth, winner of the Pursuit and right, Ella Sadler-Andrews, winner of the Bronze medal. Parents note we can email the podium picture if required.

In this event, Jessica Booth showed what a talent she is by coming close to Nicole Cooke’s record set at Manchester in 1999. The Halesowen rider qualified fastest with Corrine Hall (Twickenham CC) in second and Laura Trott (VC Londres) in third. 

 

Trott, in the second last heat, had gone out fast to try and beat the record of Cooke’s but after being up on it in the early stages, she died a thousand deaths over the last 500 metres and had to settle for third and a ride off for the bronze. A real do or die effort which didn’t pay off but showed her determination to have a go which she did by giving it her all and then some.

 

And Laura was not the only one. In a sport where the ability to push oneself really deep through the pain barrier counts for as much as anything else, the hunger for victory, even in the minor finals, was clear as the girls came off the track having got everything out and promptly collapsing in the track centre.

 

In the finals, it was Booth versus Hall and the rider in purple had too much left, going faster than she did in the qualifiers to do a 2.34.382 to Nicole Cooke’s 2:34.020 in the Under 16 Girl’s Championships in 1999.

The final for the Bronze however was a right battle between Ella Sadler-Andrews and Laura Trott and the Leisure Lakes rider just managed to beat Trott with a 2.36.037 to Trott’s 2.36.312.

 

1. Jessica BOOTH   Halesowen A & CC 2.34.382
2. Corrine HALL Twickenham CC   2.37.089  Silver Medal
3. Ella SADLER-ANDREWS  Leisure Lakes 2.36.037  Bronze Medal
4. Laura TROTT  VC Londres   2.36.312 

 

Junior Women Sprint

 

Left, World Silver medalist Jessica Varnish and right, Under 16 Sprint champion Rebecca James.

Day 3 saw the early rounds of this competition with World Silver medallist Jessica Varnish going fastest doing a 12.151 to Under 16 Champion Rebecca James’ 12.261. The two had met the year before in the Under 16 title when Varnish got the better of the younger Welsh girl and having qualified 1 and 2, the odds on a Varnish/James final this year are high.

 

In round 1, Varnish beat Emma Patterson, Rebecca James  beat Daisy Sherwood whilst Helen Scott beat Dani King in a real humdinger of a battle in heat 3. It meant GB rider King, had to get back in via the back door and the reps which she duly did and on day 4, we’ll see if James can beat Varnish which would be a major scalp after the fantastic showing Varnish made in the Junior Worlds.

 

Dani King tries to hold off Helen Scott in her round 1 match but was beaten on the line in a  photo finish.

 

Dani King ever watchful in the rep which she won.

 

Junior Men Scratch Race
The quality of this field was fantastic with the Sprint world champions from Mexico, David Daniel and Christian Lyte going up against former World Scratch race champion Peter Kennaugh. To get to the final though they had to win through in the heats which they did with heat 1 being won by Jonathon Mould from Lyte, Blythe and David Daniell. In heat 2, Kennaugh was in awesome form as was Luke Rowe and they went 1-2 ahead of Tom Skubuala and Douglas Dewey.

 

Jonathon Mould during his lap take in the heats.

 

Peter Kennaugh rolls past Luke Rowe as they qualify in the heats.

 

After a break of a few hours, the riders were back for the 80 lap final in the afternoon and what a final it was. Watching from the stands were many GB Team staff including Performance Manager Shane Sutton, keeping his finger on the pulse of the up and coming talent and seeing not only who won but also how they won.

 

A common thread in GB philosophy at this level is not just a result but how the result was achieved and that means finding riders who have the bottle to put there nose in the wind and attack. Perhaps the award for that in the final should go to Luke Rowe who was one of the most attacking riders if not the most aggressive along with Peter Kennaugh.

 

 

The race started steady (above) as riders got up to speed lap by lap and it was the Recycling.co.uk rider Luke Rowe who attacked first and was chased by Mark McNally. The injection of pace saw riders frantic in trying to hold the wheel and not long after that attack had been brought back a crash brought down half a dozen riders including a few of the Liverpool Mercury team and Peter Kennaugh.

 

The race was neutralised for a few laps whilst order was restored and then when the race started again, it was Rowe who was back off the front and trying to establish a break. He was joined by Adam Blythe and Peter Kennaugh and soon Rhys Lloyd back after injury, joined them. This was probably the most exciting part of the race as riders chewed the handlebars trying to remain in contention and at one stage, eventual winner Christian Lyte looked down and out.

 

Luke Rowe who was ever agressive in the race and Erick Rowsell and Peter Kennaugh who had the field panicking to bring them back.

 

The break though was brought back and Bronze medallist from the Road Race championships Erick Rowsell attacked and was joined by the winner of said event, Peter Kennaugh. They quickly opened up a big gap and held the lead for a few laps before the chase started in earnest and saw their lead melt quickly. The pace of the chase though and the chaos from the early breaks, saw half a dozen or so riders already out of the race with just over a quarter of the race to go.  Once Kennaugh and Rowsell were caught, there was a long period of 10 laps or so where the pace saw the bunch on the blue line and it was here perhaps the endurance riders lost the race to the sprinters like Christian Lyte.

 

With 26 laps to go, Douglas Dewey and Mark Christian made a move but after a lap or two of effort, they swung up the track and were quickly replaced by Toby Meadows and Luke Rowe. That was brought back as the pace was now back up to speed and the field lined out.

 

 

Andrew Williams joined Jonathan Mould (above) who had earlier in the day won his heat by taking a lap, the only rider all day to do so. These two, both being Welsh, had the crowd on their side and held their lead for a few laps before first Williams sat up and was caught and then the bunch said enough was enough and Mould too was caught after a brave effort.

 

We were now into the last eight laps and with six to go, Peter Kennaugh attacked yet again and quickly opened up a gap and there was a mad scramble going on behind to bring him back and the race suddenly exploded and was in pieces. It took the chasers a few laps to bring Kennaugh  back and by the bell, only four riders were left, Lyte, Blythe, Luke Rowe and Kennaugh. Lyte led the sprint out and despite this race being 73 laps longer than his normal races such as the Keirin, the Sportcity Velo rider held off the challenge of Blythe and Kennaugh, the late attacker managing to hold onto third ahead of Rowe.

 

The field starting to fragment with Lyte firmly tucked on Adam Blythe's wheel.

 

Above: Mould tries in vain to stay clear as Peter Kennaugh launches himself off the front (below).

 

 

Christian Lyte: “I didn’t expect that! I felt I was going to drop out to be honest. I was pretty tired half way through.” He then admitted that it was good to win an endurance event but added that he probably hasn’t made any friends in the endurance camp! Christian then said that it was pretty dangerous because no-one was looking as they swung up, simply flicking the elbow and swinging up.

On the sprint he says “I knew Adam was going to do something. All race he was swinging up and coming to the back and I thought I’d watch him and then I gave it everything in the sprint.”

 

Peter Kennaugh: “It was early on in the race and I was at the back of the group and saving myself for the last half of the race. I saw a couple of Dolan guys come down and then I think Richard Meadows came down in front of me. I thought I was going to miss it and then the next minute I was on the deck. Everyone is riding underneath the wheels and not thinking about the others behind them.”

On his late attack, he says “On seeing Luke coming up, I thought I might hold on and then I saw Adam and Christian and I knew I was going to get caught.  I thought if I swing up now I might be able to do something in sprint and managed to get around Luke but Christian has a very good sprint in his legs and Blythe had quite a bit left as well so it was bronze. I had quite a few attacks and the last one took everything I had.”

Under 16 Mens Points Race
The final race of the day was the Under 16 Men’s Points race and like the Junior event before it, this bunch race too was full of action. The riders battling it out had got to the final via two heats in the morning. The first heat was won by Simon Yates of   Sportcity Velo   from Sam Harrison (Cwmcarn Paragon) and Alexander King  (Twickenham CC). Heat 2 was won by Under 16 Scratch Race winner Daniel Mclay   (Leicestershire Rc) from Rhys Matcham  (Brooks Cycles) and Chris Whorrall (Manx Rc).

 

 

The final started steady, more so than the Junior Scratch race before it as riders readied themselves for the first sprint. A lap or two out from that sprint, Rhys Matcham went for a long one (above) and opened a gap which he held all the way to the sprint with Daniel Mclay winning the bunch sprint from Christopher Legg, and Matthew Bailey. 

 

Sprints were every 10 laps and soon we had Sam Fry attacking who the bunch were never going to let go. Three more riders tried to get away but their freedom was short lived as well and then Tim Kennaugh had a go but he too was caught before the second sprint won by Isle of Man rider Christopher Whorrall beat Daniel Mclay with the field in a line as the pace remained high.

 

One of the many many attacks during the Under 16 race.

 

Next to try his luck in a non stop attacking race was John Cooper and he was quickly joined by the ever aggressive Tim Kennaugh and 2007 Under 16 Pursuit champion Sam Harrison. The three of them quickly got to work and built up a good lead before Cooper swung up and dropped back leaving Harrison and Kennaugh to hold the lead.

 

As the third sprint approached, Olympic Youth Gold Medallist George Atkins attacked the bunch to chase them and held on to take third in the sprint which was won by Harrison from Kennaugh. There were now only 22 laps to go and the lead was starting to come down but the duo held on to get the points at sprint number four before being caught with 19 to go.

 

More attacks came with Whorral and Atkins part of a fourman group that got away but by 14 to go, it was all together again only for McLay, Alexander King and Christopher Legg to try their luck off the front. They held it well but were caught  on the line for the next sprint with McLay holding on to get the points from Christopher Whorrall, Alexander King and George Atkins. 

 

John Cooper looks behind to see Tim Kennaugh and Sam Harrison coming up to him.

 

One more sprint to go but before that, more drama as first Felix English tried to get away and was then caught, and then one of the leading riders, Thatcham, got his front wheel overlapping  and scrapping McLay’s rear wheel and after doing well to hold it round the bend, the Brooks Cycles rider finally went down and with only 7 to go, there was no time for laps out. His race was over.

 

It was tight at the top of the leader board but any doubt over who would win was dispensed with two to go as Harrison turned up the gas and left his rivals struggling as he carried on to win the final sprint by a mile to win the race, his second of the championship.

 

Sam Harrison and Tim Kennaugh stayed away long enough to contest two sprints.

 

Sam Harrison: The Welsh Talent Team rider said afterwards “I’m really chuffed with that ride. I wasn’t expecting anything. The pursuit (which he won) was the first time I had done an eight lap pursuit and was actually concentrating on this.” On his break with Tim Kennaugh, he explained “I didn’t think we would get a lap and was just hanging on for the points as I hadn’t scored any in the first two.

Luckily we stayed away for two sprints and for the final sprint I just went for it. I knew I had to win it.”

 

To finish, Sam who has another year in the Youth Category, says he has a goal of getting onto the Olympic Development Programme when he turns junior and before that, getting some experience on the camps with a view of making a career out of riding his bike as many others on the programmes have done. Good luck to him in the 500 metre Time Trial on Friday.

 

Two laps to go, Sam Harrison attacks...

 

.. a lap to go he still has a gap...

 

... and on the line, the sprint, and the title is his.

 

 

Felix English goes it alone.

 

Rhys Thatcham's chances of a medal are ruined by a crash.

 

Left: Scratch race winner Daniel McLay leads a break of three late in the race and right, Sam Harrison was a deserving winner of the Points race.

 

Whorral wins a sprint during the Under 16 Points race.
 
Final Result
1. Sam Harrison, Cwmcarn Paragon   15pts
2. Daniel Mclay,   Leicestershire Rc 13pts
3. Christopher Whorrall,  Manx Rc   8pts  
4. Tim Kennaugh,  Pinarello Rt   6pts  
5. Rhys Matcham,   Brooks Cycles  6pts  

 

FULL RESULTS

 

Under 16 Womens Pursuit

 

2000m PURSUIT

Qualification Result
Jessica BOOTH   Halesowen A & CC   2.35.168
Corrine HALL  Twickenham CC  2.36.083
Laura TROTT  VC Londres  2.36.215
Ella SADLER-ANDREWS  Leisure Lakes   2.37.155
Katie FEARNEHOUGH   Sportcity Velo  2.40.158
Gabriella SHAW Team Chevin Cycles 2.42.443
Hannah MANLEY  Cardiff Ajax CC  2.42.805
Sarah REYNOLDS  Evans Cycles RT 2.45.304
Emily HOGGE Palmer Park Velo 2.46.348
Lucy GARNER   Leicestershire RC  2.46.633
Sophie TERRY   VC Londres  2.48.496
Laura ALLEN New Brighton CC 2.50.562
Rachael STRANGE CC Cardiff 2.53.243
Hayley EDWARDS  Paramount CRT   2.54.606
Manon MORGANS   Maindy Flyers Youth CC 2.55.019
Laura DEMERY Bush Healthcare CRT 2.55.473
Hannah ROBINSON  Welwyn Whlrs 3.01.743
Holly SWARBRICK  Palmer Park Velo 3.08.821
 

 

5th to 8th Places
Gabriella SHAW  Team Chevin Cycles 2.41.408
Hannah MANLEY   Cardiff Ajax CC  2.42.191
Katie FEARNEHOUGH Sportcity Velo  2.42.348
Sarah REYNOLDS   Evans Cycles RT  2.43.723
 

 

Bronze Medal Ride
Ella SADLER-ANDREWS  Leisure Lakes 2.36.037  Bronze Medal
Laura TROTT  VC Londres   2.36.312 

Gold and Silver Medal Ride
Jessica BOOTH   Halesowen A & CC 2.34.382  Gold Medal and National Champion 2007

Corrine HALL Twickenham CC   2.37.089  Silver Medal

 

Junior Women Sprint

200m TT Result
Jess VARNISH   Halesowen A & CC   12.151
Rebecca JAMES   Pinarello RT 12.261
Dani KING  i-team.co.uk 12.723
Helen SCOTT  Halesowen A & CC   13.074
Daisy SHERWOOD City of Edinburgh RC   13.200
Emma PATTERSON  www.agiscoviner.com 13.916

1st Round
Heat 1
Jess VARNISH   Halesowen A & CC  12.841
Emma PATTERSON  www.agiscoviner.com
 
Heat 2
Rebecca JAMES   Pinarello RT  13.118
Daisy SHERWOOD City of Edinburgh RC

 

Heat 3
Helen SCOTT  Halesowen A & CC  12.813
Dani KING  i-team.co.uk

 

Repechage
Dani KING  i-team.co.uk
Daisy SHERWOOD City of Edinburgh RC
Emma PATTERSON  www.agiscoviner.com
13.196

 

Junior Men SCRATCH RACE

Heat 1 Result
1st Jonathan MOULD  Cardiff Ajax CC
2nd Christian LYTE Sportcity Velo
3rd Adam BLYTHE Scienceinsport - Trek
4th David DANIELL   Cleveland Whlrs
5th Rhys LLOYD   Liverpool Mercury-Dolan
6th Mark CHRISTIAN  Glendene CC
7th Daniel McLAY   Leicestershire RC
8th Osian MEILYR CC Cardiff
9th Erick ROWSELL Team Corridori
10th Mike WEBB Cardiff Ajax CC
11th Sam Freeman   Team KLR
12th Tim ROWSON   DCM - GB Vorselaar C T
13th Rob O'LOUGHLIN VC Londres
14th Joseph ALLEN New Brighton CC
15th Ben ATKINSON VC Londres
16th Joshua HARGREAVES Sportcity Velo
17th Liam DEMERY   Bush Healthcare CRT
18th Blake COWLEY   Nottingham Clarion
19th Philip LISHER Team Welwyn
Race time 10mins 2 secs

Heat 2 Result
1st Peter KENNAUGH  Pinarello RT
2nd Luke ROWE  Recycling.co.uk
3rd Tom SKUBALA  J.E.James RT
4th Douglas DEWEY  Team Tor 2000
5th Dominic JELFS  MJS Racing
6th Toby MEADOWS   Glendene CC
7th Andrew WILLIAMS   Cwmcarn Paragon
8th Steven HILL Brooks Cycles
9th  Richard MEADOWS   Liverpool Mercury-Dolan
10th Dane PERCIVAL Cardiff Ajax CC
11th Mark McNALLY  Liverpool Mercury-Dolan
12th Thomas HIBBERD   Solihull CC
13th Simon LEWIS  VC Londres
14th Toby SHERWOOD  City of Edinburgh RC
15th Iain COOK  VC Londres
16th Adam GENT In Gear Youth Dev' Squad
17th Joe MARTIN   Sportcity Velo
18th Jack KIRK  Wyre Forest CRC
Race time 10mins 2 secs
 

FINAL RESULT
1st Christian LYTE Sportcity Velo  Gold Medal and National Champion 2007
2nd Adam BLYTHE   Scienceinsport - Trek   Silver Medal
3rd Peter KENNAUGH   Pinarello RT Bronze Medal
4th Luke ROWE   Recycling.co.uk
5th Mike WEBB   Cardiff Ajax CC 
6th Mark CHRISTIAN Glendene CC 
7th Douglas DEWEY Team Tor 2000  
8th Andrew WILLIAMS   Cwmcarn Paragon
9th Erick ROWSELL   Team Corridori  
10th Sam FREEMAN  Team KLR  
11th Tom SKUBALA  J.E.James RT
12th Rhys LLOYD  Liverpool Mercury-Dolan 
13th Toby MEADOWS  Glendene CC 
14th Jonathan MOULD  Cardiff Ajax CC 
15th Mark McNALLY Liverpool Mercury-Dolan 
Race time 25min 22secs
Rider no 138 D McLay disqualified for oversize gear.

UNDER 16 POINTS RACE

Heat 1
1st Simon YATES   Sportcity Velo   8pts
2nd Sam HARRISON   Cwmcarn Paragon  8pts
3rd Alexander KING  Twickenham CC   5pts
4th Matthew BAILEY Halesowen A & CC 5pts
5th Felix ENGLISH   Team Kontour Cycles   5pts
6th Jordan HARGREAVES  Eastlands Velo  3pts
7th John COOPER   Wolverhampton Whlrs  3pts
8th Chris SHERRIFFS   Sportcity Velo   2pts
9th Jonathan DIBBEN   i-team.co.uk  2pts
10th George ATKINS Welland Valley CC  2pts
11th Samuel FRY Interbike RT 1pt
12th Richard FORREST  CC Cardiff  0pts
13th Tom WALKER Border City Whlrs   0pts
14th Ben DUNN  Velosport GCM 0pts
15th Ewen McDONALD   Halesowen A & CC   0pts
16th Calum McLEAN  Stirling BC   0pts
17th Martin DAWKINS Hillingdon Slipstreamers  0pts
Race time 11mins 17secs

 

Heat 2
1st Daniel McLAY   Leicestershire RC   13pts
2nd Rhys MATCHAM  Brooks Cycles 6pts
3rd Chris WHORRALL   Manx RC  5pts
4th Peter DIBBEN  i-team.co.uk  5pts
5th Tom GOSBEE Team Welwyn 3pts
6th Mark BAXTER  Beyond Mountain Bikes  3pts
7th Tim KENNAUGH   Pinarello RT 3pts
8th Christopher LEGG   Palmer Park Velo 3pts
9th Tom WIECKOWSKI  Halesowen A & CC   1pt
10th Chris NICHOLSON  Team Scottish Provident   1pt
11th Lewis BALYCKYI   Ribble Valley Juniors 0pts
12th Adam YATES Sportcity Velo  0pts
13th Perry BOWATER CC Giro 0pts
14th Martin WOFFINDIN   Sportcity Velo  0pts
15th David BREARLEY   City RC (Hull) 0pts
16th Aaron MURRAY   Velo Ecosse  0pts
17th Robert CRAMPTON   Eastlands Velo 0pts
Race time 11min 14secs

FINAL RESULT
1st Sam HARRISON Cwmcarn Paragon   15pts Gold Medal and National Champion 2007
2nd Daniel McLAY   Leicestershire RC 13pts Silver Medal
3rd Christopher WHORRALL  Manx RC   8pts   Bronze Medal
4th Tim KENNAUGH   Pinarello RT   6pts  
5th Rhys MATCHAM   Brooks Cycles  6pts  
6th Alexander KING  Twickenham CC   4pts  
7th Simon YATES Sportcity Velo   3pts  
8th George ATKINS  Welland Valley CC  3pts  
9th Mark BAXTER   Beyond Mountain Bikes 2pts  
10th Peter DIBBEN   i-team.co.uk  2pts  
11th Matthew BAILEY  Halesowen A & CC 2pts  
12th Christopher LEGG Palmer Park Velo 2pts  
13th Tom GOSBEE  Team Welwyn   0pts  
14th Samuel FRY  Interbike RT   0pts  
15th John COOPER  Wolverhampton Whlrs   0pts  
16th  Felix ENGLISH  Team Kontour Cycles 0pts  
17th  Christopher SHERRIFFS Sportcity Velo   0pts