Location: Tameside Cycle Circuit, Ashton-under-Lyne, Manchester
Event: 24 July 2012

Tameside pupils raced to victory at a British Cycling Inter-Schools competition in Ashton-Under-Lyne on Monday.

Over 50 pupils who have received six weeks of cycle racing training as part of British Cycling’s Go-Ride programme took to a sun washed track at Tameside Cycle Circuit. Having endured weeks of rain it was a welcome break for the new racers.

All riders took part in at least two races around the road racing circuit, with teams of four boys and girls also taking part in a team relay event.

Dowson Primary School enjoyed a 1-2 in the boy’s individual competition with Cameron Bates taking gold. Team mate Oliver Platt fought off a late challenge from Callum Brierley of Hollingworth Primary to take silver.

Manchester Road Primary showed strength in the girls’ race with Bethany Ravenscroft taking third and Leah Gregory in second place. However, Dowson once again took the spoils with Sophie Howard racing clear of the field to take the gold medal.

In the team relay competitions Droylsden based Manchester Road Primary and Hyde’s Hollingworth alternated places in the boys and girls competition with Dowson crossing the line first in both helping them gain the overall schools prize.

British Cycling Go-Ride Coach Monica Eden said: “A big thanks must go to all the schools, pupils and young volunteers who made the competition possible, there have been some fantastic performances today and most importantly some big smiles! Hopefully these pupils have realised that cycling is a fantastic sport and they can take inspiration from the recent achievements of Bradley Wiggins and the forthcoming performances of our Olympic stars.”

For more information on British Cycling’s Go-Ride Programme for under 16’s see www.britishcycling.org.uk/go-ride.