Junior Report

Post date: Apr 09, 2013 8:37:0 AM

(By David Boyne)

European Youth Olympics trials in Corkaigh Park on Easter Monday. We set off for Corkagh Park on Easter Monday, to arrive at a cycle track that was flooded with under 10, under 12, under 14 and under 16 riders who had traveled the length and breadth of the country. There were people who came from Cork, Antrim and Down.

Conor and I were competing in the under 16 category and there was somewhere in the region of 40 riders in our race, ranging from the well experienced to us. This was my first open race and Conor's second. I must say I gained a lot of experience from the race. Our race was scheduled to begin at 1.30pm and it was in a criterium format for 60 minutes plus 3 laps. From the get-go the strong riders were at the front and weaker at the back, with Conor and myself somewhere in the middle, after between 20 - 30 minutes myself and Conor got lapped meaning we had to pull out. The race was flat to the mat from the beginning with average speeds over 40k an hour, which separated the men from the boys.

When they rang the bell for the last 3 laps it was the same 11 riders in contention as they had lapped the rest of the fields and were the strong riders from the beginning. The race finished with a quicker pace than it began but I must say I enjoyed watching the 11 riders battle it out for the first 6 prizes. I also felt it was a good experience for myself and hopefully many more races to come.

David Boyne (crossing the line on the left of the road) in action in Corkagh Park