Follow britishcycling.org.uk on  

Report: National Youth Circuit Series - Yarborough

27th March 2010, Yarborough, East Midlands | Series Standings

Report: Jenny Gretton | Images: Steve Forman

Full report and images from the National Youth Circuit Series event at the East Midlands' Yarborough circuit, near Lincoln. British Cycling's Jenny Gretton witnessed great racing throughout the youth categories.

Above: Full image gallery from Steve Forman

Youth A Boys

The first race, on a bright but windy day at Yarborough, was the Youth A boys' event. A full field of 60 riders took to the start but before long, the relentless pace and challenging circuit had left just over 30 riders still in contention. Several riders were active at the front of the race, including Jake Scott (Holme Valley Wheelers), Josh Penrice (Sports City Velo), Sam Lowe (Raleigh Avanti RT) and Jon Dibben (Hargroves Cycles).

The most threatening attack of the race though came from Dan Murphy (Team Keyne) who hit out alone with less than 10 laps remaining. Murphy sustained his attack for around four laps, before finally being brought back only as the result of a huge effort by Dibben on the front of the bunch.

The winning move came with one and a half laps remaining, when Dibben took the initiative and attacked alone. He continued to increase his lead throughout the final lap and finished around 20 seconds clear. Chris Latham (Sports City Velo) took the bunch sprint for second and National Youth Champion Sam Lowe (Raleigh Avanti RT) was third.

Youth A Girls

For the first time in the National Circuit Series, there were sufficient entries to support separate races for Youth A and Youth B girls. It had been clear from the rider feedback received by British Cycling last season that this would be a positive move and the racing today was definitely a testament to that.

When Amy Roberts (Cardiff Ajax) and Lucy Garner (Leicestershire RC) went clear in the Youth A race, Alice Barnes (Palmer Park Velo) was quick to spot the danger and jumped across to the leading pair. Just as this move was taking shape, Emily Kay (Halesowen A&CC) suffered a mechanical problem and was forced to stop in the pits to change her wheel. By the time Kay rejoined the race a lap later, the break was well clear.

The three leading riders worked well together and soon built around a half lap lead. Approaching the bell, Roberts took the front and led for most of the final lap. This played straight in to the hands of Garner who allowed Roberts to open up the sprint, then came around her comfortably with around 200m to go, to repeat last year's success. Alice Barnes, who had been coping with a nose bleed in the closing stages of the race, took third and Emily Kay led the bunch home to claim fourth place.

Youth B Boys

A very active first couple of laps, combined with the windy conditions, split the Youth B race to pieces. Eventually two groups came together at the front of the race to form a lead group of nine riders which ultimately contested the finish. James Shaw (Heanor Clarion) looked strong in the second half of the race, but didn't feature in the intermediate sprints which were taken by Charlie Tanfield (Velo 99) with Billy Harding (Paul Milnes Cycles) second and Jacob Kelly third.

The group was strung out over the final lap coming in to the finish - the result of a couple of speculative early moves and some jostling for position - which saw one or two riders on the grass. However with 200m to go, it was Tanfield who jumped clear to take the win comfortably from Joe Evans (Newcastle RC) and Max Nethell (Towy Rangers).

Youth B Girls

The Youth B Girls took full advantage of the opportunity to contest their own race this year and an outstanding attack by a very impressive Abby-Mae Parkinson (Aire Valley RT) was deemed by many to be the performance of the day.

Parkinson's attack was a confident and calculated move in the final stages of the race, which took her clear for the win.

Grace Garner (Leicestershire RC) and Emily Haycox (Maindy Flyers) had been battling closely for the intermediate sprints, with Haycox taking them both. However, coming in to the finish Garner committed early and led in to the final corner to claim second with Haycox third.

Youth C Race

The Youth C race was active from the start, with Charlotte Broughton (Leicestershire RC) and Matt Walls (Eastlands Velo) being particularly aggressive, lining the race out. Soon gaps started to form and a lead group of six riders formed.

Matt Walls (Eastlands Velo) took both of the intermediate sprints and backed that up with the overall win, beating Reece Wood (Aire Valley RT) and Thomas Mein (Hetton Hawks) in a close sprint from the leading group.

Youth D

The closest sprint finish of the day was seen in the Youth D race, with Solomon Kerfoot-Robson just taking it from Matthew Shaw (Solihull CC) with Lucy Nelson (Lichfield CC) close behind them for third.

Youth E

Jack Rootkin-Gray (Solihull CC) was clear on his own after six laps to take the Under Eight race while behind him, there was a fantastic battle for second with Matthew Luscombe (Derby Mercury) just holding-off Joe Nethall (Towy Rangers) and Josie Nelson (Lichfield CC).