Team Wales claims top spot at the UK School Games 2010
Sainsbury's UK School Games

North East England 3rd, 4th and 5th September 2010
Discipline | Cycling events
Full final results for the whole event

Full British Cycling report: more>>>

The Sainsbury's UK School Games is an annual multi-sport event for the UK's elite athletes of school age. As many as 1,600 young athletes from ten sports compete over a four day Games designed to replicate the feel of a major multi-sport event, just like the Commonwealth and Olympic Games. Supported by Sainsbury's, the Youth Sports Trust, Legacy Trust UK lottery funding and in association with the North East city and town councils the UK School Games is a very prestigious event for any young athlete.

For the 2nd year running Welsh Cyclists claimed the overall Team prize with a strong performance by the Girls team in particular to help get the overall victory at the end of the tough 3 day competition.

The Team winners of the Girls event.

For the 2010 edition, British Cycling increased their participation to showcase road, criterium and time trial racing, with 13 regional youth teams of 15,16 and 17 year olds entered from across the UK. The bike racing is over three days and each event attracts highly prized gold, silver and bronze medals. After an opening ceremony at Gateshead Stadium on Thursday, the bike racing started with a vengeance on Friday afternoon in the sun drenched Leazes Park, Newcastle.

A well drilled Welsh squad which consisted of Amy Roberts, Elinor Barker, Rebecca Hunt and Amy Hill all worked well over the three days, with plenty of medals along the way and then finally the overall team prize.

The boy's team suffered with a run of bad luck, crashes and mechanical issues to make the event tougher than it already was for the young team. The boys battled on through the three days to secure a high enough final overall team position to give the whole Welsh squad the overall team win and the coveted UKSG Trophy.

Most notable performances from the three days racing came from Amy Roberts with a total of 2 silvers and one bronze medal. Elinor Barker and Amy Hill both claimed bronze medals throughout the Championship and youngest team member for the girls Rebecca Hunt was never outside of the top 10. The team also won Golds for the Team Trial.

Rebecca Hunt was a perfect example of working hard for the team and being consistent

Amy Roberts did not let a nasty crash get to her early on in the event

The boys team despite their troubles managed to put in a strong performance in the Team Trial to finish 4th narrowly missing out on a medal by only one second. It was this determination that helped the entire team to the overall win and UKSG Champions for the second year running.

Team Manager - Ben Simmons

Well what can I say about the Wales Team and the UK School Games apart from how proud I am to be apart of that team. The whole team conducted them selves in such an impressive manor on and off the bike which really set the president for all the other teams to try and follow. Performances on the bike were spectacular even with all the problems such crashes and punctures that seemed to be never ending in all the events, but the riders were not put off and their determination paid off! It wasn't a surprise for Team Wales to be leading going in to the final day but it was going to be a hard battle to hold our lead which the riders successfully did to win by the small margin of 6 points.

Overall I had a fantastic weekend with the team. The event was well organised and gave a good taste to the riders of what riding in the Commonwealth Games or Olympics would feel like. The weather was brilliant which made the experience that more enjoyable and so did all the staff and other teams that were extremely friendly and helpful. I would like to congratulate all the other teams for putting up a hard battle but the biggest congratulations would have to go to all my Welsh riders for putting 100% effort in to everything they done over the weekend and bonding as a team!

Team Coach - Laura Williams

This was my first trip away with the Welsh Youth Team. When Anneliese asked if I would accompany Ben and a team of youth riders to the UK School Games I accepted with a certain amount of in trepidation. Most of my work colleagues and friends thought I was brave/ slightly crazy to be spending my annual leave in charge of 8 hormonal teenagers in Newcastle Uni Halls of residence. A recipe for disaster in their eyes. However, my/ their fear were unfounded, although the days were long and killed my feet the kids were great company and they all came back in one piece, well apart from a few crashes. In terms of challenging or outstanding moments I recall at one point feeling rather stressed at the prospect of getting 8 riders warmed up and to start their time trial on time while Ben manned the pits, especially when I realised that I needed to assist each rider at the start/finish area - which was out of slight and yelling distance of the team area, where the riders were warming up on their rollers. Fortunately the riders were experienced and I roped Adam our nominated helper to assist in sending the kids down at the right time so they could warm up before their start.

I also had a lot of support and encouragement from UK School Games officials who were happy to help and encourage a new comer through the games.

The experience was also made more memorable by the hard work all the kids put in by winning the competition.