Last Saturday turned out to be a beautiful sunny day for the Youth National Track Championships 2006 which took place at the Track at Eamonn Ceannt Park, Dublin. There was a good showing from both sides of the border with the Northern contingent taking the lion’s share of medals – showing that National Track Head Coach, Brian Nugent’s dedicated youth development is clearly paying off. The Under 12 category was dominated by the girls with Ciara Mulholland (Clann) winning gold in the Time Trial, Sprint and Scratch events and Laura Casey (Clann) taking silver in the Time Trial and Sprint and bronze in the Scratch. Between them, Lauren Elliot and Colin Hughes (Emyvale) took the remaining medals with Lauren taking silver in the Scratch and Colin taking bronze in both the Time Trial and Sprint.
Young talent, Ben Dowling (Bray Wheelers) stormed the Under 14 category, also taking gold in all three Time Trial, Sprint and Scratch events. Jack Wilson (East Antrim) took joint silver in the Time Trial, silver in the Scratch and bronze in the Sprint with Rachel Michell (NDCC) taking joint silver in the Time Trial, silver in the Sprint and bronze in the Scratch.
Likewise in the Under 16 category, Philip Lavery (Usher IRC) took gold in all three Time Trial, Sprint and Scratch events, showing that he is a force to be reckoned with for the future, excelling on both the road and Track this year. Still only 15 years old, he achieved the fastest national time set by any Senior this year in the Time Trial - a 500 metre standing start with a time of 39.33 seconds, less than a second shy of Malcolm Goggin’s national record of 38.54 seconds. Peter Wilson (Maryland) took silver in the Time Trial and Scratch events and bronze in the Sprint. Stuart Henry (NDCC) took silver in the Sprint and bronze in the Scratch with Aaron Boggle (South Dublin CC) taking bronze in the Time Trial.
It was very heartening to see so many talented young riders competing at this level and the Track Commission is anxious to build upon this event with a number of ongoing youth development initiatives. Young riders are especially welcome to participate in the Cycleways Track League every Wednesday at 7pm, training on Saturday mornings from 11am and Monday evenings from 7pm as well as regular trips to Manchester Velodrome. For further information, please contact Aideen Collard, E-mail: acollard@eircom.net, Tel: 087 4179967.
Finally, many thanks to all those who helped out to make this event a great success.
FULL RESULTS:
Under 12 Time Trial – (100 metres standing start)
1st Ciara Mulholland (Clann) 11.85 seconds
2nd Laura Casey (Clann) 12.25 seconds
3rd Colin Hughes (Emyvale) 12.43 seconds
Under 12 Sprint
1st Ciara Mulholland (Clann)
2nd Laura Casey (Clann)
3rd Colin Hughes (Emyvale)
Under 12 Scratch
1st Ciara Mulholland (Clann)
2nd Lauren Elliot
3rd Laura Casey (Clann)
Under 14 Time Trial – (250 metres standing start)
1st Ben Dowling (Bray Wheelers) 21.95 seconds
2nd Rachel Mitchell (NDCC) 23.27 seconds
2nd Jack Wilson (East Antrim) 23.27 seconds
Under 14 Sprint
1st Ben Dowling (Bray Wheelers)
2nd Rachel Mitchell (NDCC)
3rd Jack Wilson (East Antrim)
Under 14 Scratch
1st Ben Dowling (Bray Wheelers)
2nd Jack Wilson (East Antrim)
3rd Rachel Mitchell (NDCC)
Under 16 Time Trial – (500 metres standing start)
1st Philip Lavery (Usher IRC) 39.33 seconds
2nd Peter Wilson (Maryland) 40.99 seconds
3rd Aaron Boggle (South Dublin CC) 41.99 seconds
Under 16 Sprint
1st Philip Lavery (Usher IRC)
2nd Stuart Henry (NDCC)
3rd Peter Wilson (Maryland)
Under 16 Scratch
1st Philip Lavery (Usher IRC)
2nd Peter Wilson (Maryland)
3rd Stuart Henry (NDCC)