Rachael Kaye-Mellor closed off her season with a fine win at the National Youth Championships on Saturday. The Orwell rider held off some stiff competition, sprinting hard to grab victory in the U15 & U16 girls' road race event, earning the U16 National Champion title.
Limerick CC hosted the National Youth Championships this weekend, and Orwell had a full complement of riders participating. A trio of Kaye-Mellors were competing - Mathew in the U12s, Timothey in the U14s and Rachael in the U16s. Joining them were Jack O'Connor in the U15s, and Naoise Sheridan and Darragh Long both in the U16s. Time trial, road race and criterium events were held over Saturday and Sunday, making for a testing weekend for the youth riders, but they did themselves proud.
Star of the weekend was Rachael Kaye-Mellor, who bested Laura Cooke of the home club in a two up sprint in the road race, making her the Girls' U16 National Champion! Huge congratulations are well deserved! Rachael has been training hard since the Errigal International Youth Tour, and it paid off beautifully on Saturday.
Coming in solo behind them was Naoise Sheridan, also booking herself a spot on the podium. Herself and Rachael are part of the Neenan Travel 2020 talent Team, and well used to racing hard. The duo had already put in solid performances that morning in the TT, with Kaye-Mellor netting herself a bronze medal, and Naoise only 30' behind her in a very respectable 7th place.
The boys were less lucky, with both Darragh Long and Jack O'Connor crashing out of the road race. In the TT, Jack did well to finish 11th, less than a minute behind the gold medal in a very strong field. In the younger categories, Timothey Kaye-Mellor was denied a chance at a medal in the U14 race, crossing the line with the bunch after the top spots had been stolen by breakaway riders. His brother Mathew was also unlucky in the U12 event, but can be proud of his 15th overall in the TT. Timothey can similarly hold his head high after finishing 5th in the U14 TT, just 14' outside the placings.
Sunday was the criterium events, and the girls outshone the boys once again. In the U15 & U16 girls event, the gold was won by Hayley Priestley (La Lanterne Rouge CC), but the silver and bronze were gathered up by the double-team of Rachael and Naoise, completing their haul for the weekend. The only other result currently available from the crits saw Darragh Long unlucky once more, crossing the line with six riders (and five more in hot pursuit), but just missing the podium in 5th place. Still a solid achievement, especially after the previous day's crash, and one he can build on for the future.
Rachael and Naoise also each picked up a special girl's prize, sponsored by the Women's Commission.
Overall, a fantastic performance from our youth riders. They've been well coached and supported throughout the season by both club and family members, and the medals and results reflect the hard work that both the riders and the rest of the team put in. Well done to all!
TT - U16 Girls
1 Hayley Priestley (La Lanterne Rouge CC) 00:13:13
2 Josie Knight (Kanturk CC) 00:13:18
3 Rachel Kaye-Mellor (Orwell) 00:13:23
7 Naoise Sheridan (Orwell) 00:13:53
TT - U15 Boys
1 Aaron Swan (TSCR) 00:11:02
2 Declan Mulholland (Clann Eireann) 00:11:05
3 Ryan Orr (Ballymoney CC) 00:11:06
11 Jack O’Connor (Orwell) 00:12:00
TT - U14 Boys
1 Jake Gray (East Tyrone) 00:11:11
2 Adam Thatcher (Slaney CC) 00:11:40
3 Adam Stenson (Lucan CRC) 00:12:05
5 Timothey Kaye-Mellor (Orwell) 00:12:19
TT - U12 Boys
1 Conor Gallagher (Castlebar) 00:12:32
2 Pj Doogan (Errigal CC) 00:12:44
3 Evan O’Donnell (Limerick CC) 00:12:52
15 Mathew Kaye-Mellor (Orwell) 00:15:22
RR - U15 & U16 Girls
1 Rachel Kaye-Mellor (Orwell) 00:51:49
2 Laura Cooke (Limerick CC) 00:51:50
3 Naoise Sheridan (Orwell) 00:53:21
RR - U14 Boys
1 Jake Gray (East Tyrone) 00:45:01
2 Adam Stenson (Lucan CRC) 00:45:18
3 Adam Thatcher (Slaney CC) 00:46:01
8 Timothey Kaye-Mellor (Orwell) 00:47:28
RR - U12 Boys
1 Conor Gallagher (Castlebar) 00:24:50
2 Cian May (Lucan CRC) 00:24:52
3 Daniel O'Connell (Kanturk CC) 00:24:52
18 Mathew Kaye-Mellor (Orwell) 00:30:26
Crit - U15 & U16 Girls
1 Hayley Priestley (La Lanterne Rouge CC)
2 Rachel Kaye-Mellor (Orwell)
3 Naoise Sheridan (Orwell)
Crit - U16 Boys
1 Mark Downey (Banbridge CC) 00:43:46
2 Shane O'Hara (Limerick CC) 00:43:46
3 Fintan Ryan (Sorrento CC) 00:43:46
5 Darragh Long (Orwell) 00:43:46
Crit - U15 Boys
1 Cathal Clarke (Newry Wheelers) 00:37:00
2 Declan Mulholland (Clann Eireann) 00:37:01
3 Simon Twomey (Cork County CC) 00:37:02
14 Jack O'Connor (Orwell) listed as 00:25:11
Crit - U14 Boys
1 Dion McCarthy (Unattached) 00:22:16
2 Jake Gray (Eat Tyrone) 00:22:16
3 Adam Thatcher (Slaney CC) 00:22:17
9 Timothey Kaye-Mellor (Orwell) 00:22:20
Crit - U12 Boys
1 Pj Doogan (Errigal CC) 00:14:40
2 Aaron Doherty (Covey Wheelers) 00:15:39
3 Evan O'Donnell (Limerick CC) 00:15:47
14 Mathew Kaye-Mellor (Orwell) listed as 00:10:35
