More success for Welsh on final day of competition
There was more success on the track for Welsh riders at the National Championships.
The first medal of the day came in the colour of silver for CC Cardiff's, Jordan Howell Christie in the U16 500m Time Trial. Jordan produced a stunning ride to lead the competition for most of event until one of the last riders to go piped him to the Gold Medal position.
The second medal of the day went to Elinor Barker, Lifeforce Cervelo in the U14 Girls omnium event.
Elinor's consistency in all three events meant that she accumulated enough points to get her the bronze medal. Her positions in the event were: Pursuit 3rd - Sprint 3rd and Time Trial 5th
These last medals of the championships rounded off an excellent week for Welsh riders on the track and shows that Wales has a bright future on the Velodrome.
Welsh riders win three more medals in the 5th
day of competition at the National Championships
Ruby Miller, Jon Mould and Lewis Olivia won three more medals in another successful day for Welsh riders at the National Championships.
Ruby Miller continued her good form and success at the championships by taking silver in close fought U16 women’s points’ race. Ruby Miller and Hannah Manley, who both rode strongly throughout the race, were gradually picking up points with each sprint. Ruby put herself in a good position to claim the title by winning the forth sprint with only the two sprints to go to the finish. Ruby dropped a few points in the last but one sprint to her rival Hannah Barnes which would prove to be costly. Ruby answered back by producing a stunning finish to take the final sprint but it was not enough to overcome Barnes’s points tally.
Ruby (centre) prepares for one of the sprints
The next medal of the day was won by young Welsh sprinter Lewis Olivia. Olivia produced some excellent performances in the qualifying rounds to put him in contention for a medal. With a blistering time of 11.584 in the flying 200 Olivia demonstrated that he had good form for the event. Making it through his heats and quarter finals with little trouble. Olivia drew Kian Amadi in the semi’s who also has been on form during the championships and would prove to be a tough opponent to beat. Olivia lost out in the semis and would now be facing Jon Paul for the bronze medal ride off. In two close sprints, Jon Paul managed to get the better of Olivia but due to being over geared, Jon Paul would later be disqualified and Olivia moved into a well deserved bronze medal position.
Jon Mould Cardiff Ajax, who’s been getting stronger with each day of the championships, took and excellent silver medal in the junior point’s race. With the race setting off at a fast pace, it was not going to be an easy race for any of the competitors. Luke Rowe and Sam Harrison showed early pace with both scoring well in the early sprints. Mould gradually picked up his points throughout the event and scored well in the in the final four sprints to get himself in contention for a medal.
With some excellent tactical riding, Mould got himself in a small group that had managed to breakaway from the main group with 3 laps to go. The 5 riders managed to hold off the bunch leaving them to contest the final sprint. Mould looked like he was going to take the last sprint, but was piped to the line by the eventual winner overall Mark Christian from the Isle of Man.
Luke Rowe and Jon Mould at the front of the race
Final positions overall
The last event of the day was Junior Men’s Kieran. Always a crowd pleaser, the qualifying rounds did not disappoint. Welsh rider Luc Jones, Tredegar Nomads looked easy in his heats and sailed through to the final. This sent a warning message to his rivals who knew they would have to be tactically aware in order to beat Luc to the medals. The final saw Luc take control and pick up the derny first in line. The derny peeled off and the jumping for position started. Luc ended up in a box and was unable to manoeuvre out of it until the home straight by which time it was too late to make a move.
Luc Jones at the start of the Keiren Final
For full results, click the link below
Miller, Manley and Greenfield all win medals
on 4th day of the championships
Day 4 news
There was more success for three of Wales top young track cyclists in the 4th day of competition at Newport Velodrome. The three riders notched up silver and two bronze medals between them.
The first medal of the day was won by Alex Greenfield in the Junior Women’s Pursuit. Alex was well placed in qualification and a strong early performance put her in contention for the Gold and Silver medal ride-off until later in the qualification round where her time was pipped leaving her to compete for the Bronze medal.
Alex produced a strong performance in the ride-off for the bronze to see off the challenge of her opponent and claim her first medal of the championships.
Next up were the duo of Ruby Miller and Hannah Manley in the U16 Women’s Scratch race. Miller and Manley both looked strong in the early stages of the event, rolling with the moves and making sure that their closest rivals were never far away from them. Both riders were always near the front and as the race got into its closing stages they began to make their moves. With 5 laps to go, the pace began to rise. Manley was the first to manoeuvre herself towards the front and with 2 laps to go she set the pace. Miller was a few places behind trying to get out of a slight box of riders.
Manley in black leads Miller
Miller and Manley, never far away from the front
Miller setting the pace
Manley leads the group in the final sprint
Bell lap and Manley kicked, taking the race from the front, a rider moved over the top of Manley on the back straight with Miller on her wheel. Final 100m and Miller kicked to move around her opponent. The sprint for the line was close and Miller lost out by only a wheel. Manley dug deep and held on for third.
Strong performances by both.
For full results, click the link below
Harrison wins his third successive title
Day 3 news
Sam Harrison continued his dominance of the U16 category by winning the points race on the third day of competition at Newport Velodrome.
Sam Harrison in action (centre)
In a thrilling race that saw some exciting sprints for the points, Sam showed a clean pair of wheels to his opponents by winning the first two sprints. Mid race and Sam made sure that he followed all the right wheels and closed down any dangerous moves.
Sam, third in line towards the end of the race
Sam setting the pace in the closing laps
As the race reached its closing stages a small group was just off the front of the main bunch with two laps to go. Sensing the danger, Sam kicked from the front of the group where his pace proved too much for the other riders to hold, sweeping by all but one of the leading group to cross the line in second place and take enough points to give him the overall victory.
Ruby Miller and Hannah Manley were competing in the U16 Girls pursuit where both qualified to be in the hunt for medals.
Ruby produced a stunning ride to qualify in second position and get herself in the ride off for the Gold and Silver medal against Lucy Garner. Hannah Manley also qualified well to get herself in the ride off for the bronze medal against Hannah Barnes.
The first final saw Hannah Manley ride a close race against her opponent to finally loose out by only 0.5 of a second and miss the bronze medal.
The silver and gold medal final saw Ruby Miller make a gradual start where at the half way point she began to pull back on Lucy Garner. With two laps to go she trailed by 1.5 seconds. Ruby managed to dig deep and pull the time back, only to loose out at the finish by 0.2 of a second to claim the silver medal position.
The final event of the day was Junior Scratch race. In what was described as being one of the best scratch races in many years, Jon Mould, Cardiff Ajax managed to finish an excellent 2nd place. The pace was high from the gun and Welsh riders Jon Mould and Luke Rowe, Rapha Condor were regularly seen attacking off the front of the main group. This attacking style of racing is what eventually lead to Jon crossing the line in a well deserved second position with Luke Rowe crossing the line in 5th.
Jon (3rd from back) Luke (back)
Jon Mould (back) roled with the moves
Luke Rowe at the head of the field
Jon Mould with his silver medal
Celebration lap
For full results, click the link below
Success for Welsh riders in the Youth
and Junior National Championships
There was success for Wales’ top young riders in the first two days of the National Championships being held at Newport Velodrome.
Sunday saw Sam Harrison and Luc Jones take medals in the U16 pursuit and sprint disciplines. Sam Harrison produced an excellent ride in the U16 pursuit to defend his title. Sam, riding for Cwmcarn Paragon produced a world class time of 2.16 over the 2km to take 1st place and set a new National record, beating the old record by three seconds.
Luc Jones of Tredegar Nomads produced some stunning riding in the qualifiers for the Junior sprint, beating the former world champion, Peter Mitchell to get himself into the run off for the Gold and Silver medals. The final was a fiercely fought battle but his opponent managed to win two of the three sprints to beat Luc into second.
Luc Jones in action
Podium of the Junior sprint
Monday saw Sam Harrison take his second title in as many days in the U16 Scratch Race. The quality of field meant the qualification races were run at high standard with Sam looking comfortable throughout his qualifier. The final went from the gun with no real drop in pace for the 10km. A few minor attacks were made but the pace did not allow for any real breaks to form. Sam sitting comfortably near the front followed the right wheels and as the pace increased with 5 laps to go Sam began to make his move. 2 laps to go Sam hit the front, winding up the speed making it hard for anyone to manoevre around him. Bell lap and a few riders move out to attempt to overtake but Sam’s pace proves too much and it takes him over the line to his second title.
Richard Forrest also taking part in the final event produced creditable ride to finish in sixth, demonstrating the strength of the young Welsh riders.
No to be out done, Max Nethell, Towy Riders riding in the male U12 categories demonstrated that he will be one to watch in the future with excellent rides in all of his events to finally put himself in first place overall and take home the championship.
Welsh riders were also prominent on the podium in the U12 girls omnium events.
Megan Barker and Emily Haycox produced some excellent rides over their events to finally finish with enough points to put Megan in 2nd and Emily in 4th overall, Megan narrowly missing out on the top spot.
For full results, click the link below