The Newport Para-cycling International Cup took place over the weekend, which saw a strong Welsh representation by the Disability Sport Wales Academy programme and riders who have risen to the British Cycling World Class programmes. The first international competition since the phenomenally successful London 2012 Paralympics provided a much needed opportunity for the squad to assess their form, and position, ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, and for some the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
In total 4 riders represented GB at the event – Rhiannon Henry, Matt Ellis, Ieuan Williams and Rachel James. Meanwhile the Academy had: Lauren Booth, Conor Brock, Matt Faucher, Matt Jones, Dan Norton, Hywel Davies, James Brookman, Nia Knight and Katie Curtis.
In the men’s tandem kilometre time trial it was Matthew Ellis and Ieuan Williams of Great Britain who took the early lead – setting a 1:03.910 in heat 2. The lead was held until the last pair went on the track, the Scottish pairing of Neil Fachie and Craig Mclean, who pipped the Welsh pair to take Gold in a time of 1:03.199. Ellis was pleased with his performance – on his 22nd birthday - "It feels very good – I’m very happy. I wasn’t expecting to get such a good time – I’m speechless. I would have been happy with a bronze – I’m just happy to be on the podium. I haven’t been on the development programme for that long but it’s all going the right way."
In the women’s tandem kilometre time trial Rhiannon Henry had to settle for 4th, narrowly missing out on podium whilst Nia Knight/Katie Curtis finished in 7th. However Rachel James took the plaudits, sister to double World Champion Becky, where she piloted for English stoker, Sophie Thornhill, to take Gold.
Over the weekend youth development riders (under 16yr of age) got the opportunity to compete at the event, and what an impression the Academy riders made. Not only taking Gold and Bronze in the Youth Omnium event, the eventual winner Lauren Booth, only 12yrs old, set a world leading time in the 200m flying start event, but it could not be ratified as an official world record because of the absence of anti-doping administrators at the event. However her performances in the 200m flying start and the 500m sprint ensured she set a new British Record. Conor Brock took the Bronze medal in the omnium event.
More success was had in the 3km Time Trial with Matt Faucher winning Bronze in the C1 classification group, whilst Matt Jones also won Bronze, this time in the C2 classification group.
To round off a magnificent weekend Rachel James took another Gold, this time in the 3km Time Trial, whilst Academy riders Nia Knight and Katie Curtis took a Bronze in the Tandem race.
Neil Smith, Disability Sport Wales ParaCycling Coach was obviously delighted with the performances: ‘We saw some amazing performances on the track with everyone achieving a personal best time by a considerable percentage added to by a World Record, gold and four bronze medals for the Academy programme an amazing achievement. From only 7 academy athletes entered we achieved 5 podium places, which is an amazing ratio, especially as for most of you this is your first competition.’
Smith went on to say: ‘Additionally I was very please at how the Welsh riders within the GB squad performed, having come through our Academy programme here at the Wales National Velodrome in Newport. We continue to be a conveyor belt of developing talented athletes and feeding the GB programme. There are exciting times ahead for these riders, where hopefully we’ll see some success at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.’
