Follow britishcycling.org.uk on

Report: White Rose Youth League Early Bird R1

Event: 16th April 2011
Promoted by: White Rose Youth League
Venue: Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Bradford
Report: John Cullaigh
Results

This eagerly awaited first of two Early Bird races for the White Rose Youth League delivered some great performances across all five categories. Each race went anti-clockwise around the half mile circuit and the weather could hardly have been better at this notoriously chilly venue normally renowned for being ‘two coats colder' - bright and sunny, 14 Celsius and a good strength tail wind out of the final, fast bend up the 130 metre home straight.

First race was the five lap combined U8's and U10's and by the end of the first lap the field was split into three groups. Three U10's riders from East Bradford CC, Billy Lazenby, Alex Grice and George Southby dominated the lead group, which soon established an unbridgeable gap. Going into the final bend before the sprint for home it looked as though all three riders were ready to explode into action but it was Lazenby who emerged the stronger, attacking and holding onto first place with Grice and Southby getting 2nd and 3rd. In the U10 girls Elphina Waterman Kirklees Cycling Academy [KCA]) put in a fine performance of determined solo riding to take the win.

U8 boys Joe Pidcock (Aire Valley RT), Jamie Littlewood (RVO Racing) and Patrick Kilcullen (Stockton Wheelers) dominated the chase group which at times was stretched over 50 metres. Nonetheless they did their best to work together and in the final lap it was Pidcock who looked the strongest in the final sprint and got the win from Littlewood and Kilcullen. In the girls it was Ava Oxley (Wakefield Jun Tri), Ella Lazenby (East Bradford) and Sunnivah Waterman (KCA) who took 1st, 2nd and 3rd with excellent displays of intelligent and determined riding for such youngsters.

In the 10 lap U12's the pace was very brisk from the start, with many riders determined to get off the front and it was well into the second lap that a lead group of five riders clearly established itself and the pace settled down as riders recalibrated their efforts. In the boys, out of the final bend it was two Wakefield Junior Tri riders, Tom Humphreys and Jacob Feetham, and Tom Pidcock (Aire Valley RT) who outpaced the rest of the lead group and provided a thrilling sprint finish in which Humphreys got the win from the other two in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The U12 girls race was stretched out through the field, though the winner Hannah Banks (East Bradford) was not far off the back of the lead group of boys until the last lap. Banks won comfortably, and Felicity Gledhill (Planet X) put in a valiant last couple of laps to almost catch 2nd place Georgina Mousser, whose pace in the early laps looked a serious threat to Banks. And staying with valiant riding for a moment longer, Tilly and Jim Brown (Holme Valley Wheelers) both making their debut on the competitive circuit, and both very new to road cycling, rode with tremendous strength and determination to finish 5th and 8th respectively. Well done guys!

The U14's was an all male affair and it did not take long for seven riders to break away to form a lead group for most of their 15 lap contest. In this group much of the early pace was set by Reece Wood, but by the 4th lap he realised he was doing too much work and dropped back. Joe Williams (Holme Valley Wheelers), York Holden (East Bradford), David Pullan (Leeds Mercury) and Seth Waterman (KCA) each obliged and began doing their share at the front for the remainder of the race. At the bell all five riders were still co-operating well but by the time they got to 30 metres from the final bend it was Wood who broke away from the pack in a blistering attack that saw him sprint up the last 130 metres home comfortably to take the win. Holden just beat off a superb last 50 metre sprint from Williams to take 2nd.

In the boys U16 there were a few new faces but the race was completely dominated by old rivals and pals Leon Gledhill (Planet X [ex Holme Valley Wheelers]) and Gabriel Cullaigh (Holme Valley Wheelers). They were quickly off the front and though two riders attempted to go with them, by the 4th lap they had a clear and lengthening lead for the remaining 21 laps. Despite their lead these two riders soon realised this was no easy race as they each took their turn at the front and co-operation quickly became the name of the game as they settled into short, 5 second turns... until the last lap. As they approached the final bend it was Gledhill who launched a text book attack from the back to put Cullaigh under tremendous pressure and take the win. Both riders deserve full credit for the way worked together and kept such a fantastic pace throughout in trying circumstances, not least for their level headedness in tolerating various lapped riders attempting to stay on their wheel for 4 consecutive laps two thirds through the race. James King (Columba CC) got third.

In the girls U16's the first three home Caitlin Tromans (East Bradford), Alice Grieve (Stockton Wheelers) and Beth Smith (East Bradford) each gave a fantastic performance of disciplined and intelligent riding as they calibrated their efforts for the 25 laps. Riding solo for this distance is in no respect easy and demands tremendous concentration and will power. Excellent riding girls, very well done!

Well done and many thanks to the volunteers from East Bradford CC, Aire Valley RT and Holme Valley Wheelers, and especially to all competitors for an excellent afternoon's racing. Competition is set to be stronger fierce for the second Early Bird next week as many of this week's absentees will be present and eager to leave their mark!