Last weekend saw two of our young Newport Velo Youth Cycling members in competition for the first time at the British Championships at Manchester Velodrome up against some of the best in the World.

 

It was a big step up for James Brookman (13) who took part in the CP3 category and Nathan Tyrell (15) in the B&VI tandems piloted by Andrew Davis.

 

Each event in the championship is decided on the basis of comparing each rider's recorded time against the current World Record within each disability category. Points are awarded according to the percentage of the time against the World Record, the winner being the rider who has the highest points total.

 

The first event on the Friday evening was flying 200m sprint, where solo riders are given three and a half laps and tandems five and a half laps to build up speed and complete a flying 200m at the finish.

 

James Brookman was first up and climbed the 46 degree wooden banking high and coming out of saddle at the bell to complete the 200m in a time of 16.213  and 77.284 points.

Next up was Nathan Tyrell piloted by Andrew Davis in the visually impaired category, the young pairing notched up a very impressive 13.009 and 80.032 points.

 

The Saturday saw them both compete in the kilometre time trial, a standing kilometre over four laps of the 250m Manchester boards.

 

It was down to Nathan and Andrew on the tandem to lead the charge, recording a time 1.18.372 and 80.082 points, showing good skills with an out of the saddle acceleration from the starting gate until they got their tandem up to speed in the opposite straight.

 

James followed with a time of 1.35.378 and 76.549 points, just a tenth of a second off his personal best time in training at Newport.

 

Newport Velo Coaches Neil Smith and Bryan Pilot where very pleased with the results from the young riders and commented "they showed excellent skills in the execution of their respective events and show great promise for the future of disability cycling in Wales, for under 16's to get within 6 points of their senior competitors at such a competition is a great result" !