Orwell in the medals in National Youth Championships

National Youth Championships, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, 11th-12th July

What a weekend we had in the National Youth Championships held by SERC in Arklow on July 11th and 12th. With prizes for the first eight in each category, there was a lot of competition.

We had the four usual suspects representing Orwell in four of the six age categories: Craig Arrigan in the Under 14 event, Darragh Long Under 13, Rachael Kaye Mellor Under 12 and Timothy Kaye Mellor Under 11.

Timothy Kaye Mellor, Rachael Kaye Mellor, Darragh Long, Craig Arrigan

The competition was split into three separate races per age group with a time trial and a criterium on Saturday followed by a road race on Sunday. There were over 120 competitors competing across the six age categories.

The predicted bad weather held off in the morning for the 6K Time Trial and each rider was sent off every minute by age with the youngest first. First off for Orwell was Timothy in only his second Time Trial and he got an amazing seventh.

Next was Rachael, who again is a novice in this event, but she managed to get fourth in her category even though she was sick all that morning (nerves?). Then came Darragh who blasted home in first in the Under 13s followed by Craig who also shot home first of the Under 14s.

There was a bit of controversy at the TT finish with a mandatory gear check. Luckily no Orwellians we involved as their parents had set the gear ratios correctly (at least for their own children). A few parents were also spotted following behind shouting instructions. Another no-no which was again picked up by the cycling Ireland officials.

The next event was the criterium but it was more like a swimming gala with continuous torrential rain. I came away soaked through even though I had a rain jacket and umbrella, but it was well worth the soaking. With a bit of a drag to the finish line it made for a good hard finish for all.

Again it went off in age order with Timothy finding the pace a bit fast over the four 1.6km laps, he was in ninth in the final lap coming up the straight spinning in the wrong gear! A shout from his dad (me) to change up got him going up to speed but it was too late. He made up the 10 metre gap with a brave sprint but he was pipped at the line getting ninth and his trophy was looking in serious doubt.

Rachael was next up with four laps and she kept up with the leading bunch up to the end. She came in to the end of the sprint in eighth, slipping on a cat eye in the sprint but managing to stay on her bike. Darragh was cool as ever in his seven lap crit and came in first with a fine sprint finish. Craig made it another first for Orwell under serious sprinting pressure. Wow it was some race but it was time to get home ASAP and get dry!

Sunday's weather was much better with only a few showers later in the event. The course was 6km with a wicked 30m ascent to the finish. I had a go on my bike and registered over 400W on my power meter to get up it!

Timothy had a go during warm up and had to walk it, things were not looking good for 8th place and his first trophy. He was instructed about the correct use of the front gear, especially the little ring and off he went. Waiting at the bottom of the hill I was amazed to see him come about the corner in seventh with a 10 second lead on the next rider. He followed the gear changing instruction (left button, left button) and made it up the hill without walking, seventh place and he did what he had to do.

Rachael was next off and again it was the hill that caused the problem. She's had problems with her little ring with the chain coming off regularly when changing down. She lost a lot of distance on the hill using the big ring and was forced to risk changing down and it.... worked. Phew! She got seventh, just a few seconds down but not happy with what I thought was a good place given the standard of the competition.

Darragh came next and had to do three laps this time. The first two laps were at a good pace and the field was spread out with a front group of 10 or so. Of all the riders Darragh looked the most comfortable one each assent. On the final lap he came up the hill in second place but suddenly put the foot down and powered up the last few meters into first position and there was no catching him. It was a master class in positioning, timing and sheer guts.

Craig was next with seven laps in a very competitive field. He was always in contention but was a marked man and his fourth place meant his first overall looked under threat.

In the end Timothy did what he needed to do in the road race to redeem himself and get his first trophy in eighth place overall. Rachael was sixth overall and the first girl. She was a bit disappointed by her place but competed with distinction in her first championship and who knows? Next year... What can I say about Darragh he simply outclassed the competition. He has been doing well in U14 this year often a place or two behind his friend and sparring partner Craig, but he's a year younger and if he keeps this type of performance up in U14 next year Damien will need to buy some new shelves for the trophies.

Even though Craig was unlucky in the road race his two other wins were enough to get him his Irish championship to top his already brilliant season and bulging trophy cabinet.

All in all it was an amazing weekend, not just for Orwell youth, but for the club as a whole with two new Irish champions. Success like this can only spur on more children (and adults) to join in the racing that we all love. With the work Aidan and the rest of the parents are putting in I think next year we'll have a few new faces and who knows maybe some more Irish champions.