Almost 150 cyclists from across Ireland competed for the honour of National Champion’s Jersey’s in the Time Trial, Criterium, and Road Race across the U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, and U16 categories.
Following registration on Friday evening and Saturday morning, the racing got underway with the Time Trial. The race against the clock was over 1.2 miles on a flat and largely straight road. British based Meath rider, Ryan Mullen (Navan RC) took the top spot in the Under 16 category with a time of 2.13. Mullen who recently broke the British Juvenile 10 miles Time Trial record with a time of 19.14 had an outstanding winning margin of 11 seconds over the silver medallist, Cormac Clarke (Newry Wheelers). 2009 Youth Olympian, Robert Anderson (Orchard Wheelers) took the bronze a further second behind Clarke. Conor McAteer (Bann Valley RC) struck Ulster’s first gold of the Championship by winning the Under 15 category in a time of 2.23. Mark Downey (Banbridge CC) took the Under 14 title, winning by 7 seconds from Craig Crawford (TSC Racing). Clann Éireann’s Declan Mulholland took a popular home win in the Under 13 event ahead of Cathal Clarke (Newry Whs) who followed in his brother’s footsteps with a silver medal in the Time Trial Championship. Adam Thatcher (Slaney CC) recorded the fastest time of the Under 12’s, and Dylan Corkery (Kanturk CC) claimed the gold medal in the Under 11’s.
On Saturday evening attention turned to the Criterium Championship which took place in Coalisland town centre. The atmosphere and momentum for the entire evening was started by a procession through the main street by all of the participant’s in this year’s National Youth Road Championship. Fast racing on a technical course which was only made possible by the cooperation of the shopkeepers and residents of the town then ensued. A battle for the top places into the first corner started each race. Gold and silver was once again in the possession of Mullen and Clarke respectively in the Under 16 race who broke clear of the rest of the field, Ards CC’s Ian Inglis put in a strong performance to claim the bronze.
The Under 15 Criterium saw a very aggressive move early on by Kieran Campbell (Drogheda Wheelers). Campbell attacked the field on the first lap and stayed clear until the final two laps when he was eventually overhauled and had to settle for the bronze behind Jason Prendergast (Covey Wheelers) who took the title just ahead of Thomas Fallon (Wolftrap CC).
The Under 14 race saw Downey take his second gold of the day. Dylan O’Callaghan (Kanturk CC) took silver ahead of Darragh Long (Orwell Wheelers) who had to settle for the bronze after being one of the most active riders in the race. Aaron Swan (TSC Racing) took the Under 13 title in a closely contested sprint finish from the TT Champion, Mulholland and Michael O’Loughlin (Dan Morrissey) who had also taken bronze in the TT.
The Under 12 race was also decided in a very close sprint, on this occasion Jake Gray (Orchard Wheeler) claimed the first place on the podium. Dion McCarthy (Fermoy CC) took silver with the TT gold medallist, Thatcher in bronze. Corkery took gold in the Under 11’s after pushing on in the closing stages from Dean Chambers (Newry Wheelers) and Callum McKenna (Emyvale CC).
The Road Race Championship in the six categories was down for decision on Sunday. Mullen, Clarke and Kyle Cole (Roe Valley CC) dominated the Under 16 race, as they got the bell for the final lap this trio had an advantage of almost six minutes over the main field. The Ulster duo of Clarke and Cole were unable to deny Mullen his third gold of the weekend as he crossed the line with his hands in the air. Cole took the silver medal with Clarke in the bronze. Clarke's hopes of challenging for the gold or silver disappeared in the closing stages as he got a puncture and rolled across the line with a flat front wheel. The Under 15 event ended in a large bunch sprint with Liam Corcoran (Castlebar CC) taking the title to Mayo. Fallon took his second silver of the weekend while Cian Dyer (Dan Morrisey) took bronze.
Shane O’Hara (Limerick CC) denied Downey the clean sweep of titles by winning the large bunch gallop in the Under 14 race. Dylan O’Callaghan (Kanturk CC) added to his club’s healthy medal haul with bronze. The Under 13 race was split by aggressive and attacking riding by O’Loughlin and Swan. It was O’Loughlin who proved to have more in the tank at the end, going glear on the home straight from Swan. Pierce Atchison (East Tyrone CC) took the bronze for the neighbouring Tyrone club.
Gray and McCarthy took gold and bronze in the Under 12 road race just as they had done in the previous evening’s criterium. Conor McCann (East Tyrone CC) took his club’s second medal of the day when he claimed the bronze. Corkery emulated Mullen by taking his third gold in the Road Race ahead of Chambers, Errigal’s PJ Doogan claimed an historic first All Ireland medal for his recently formed Donegal based club.
The National Youth Road Championships proved to be a huge success and this was thanks to the huge amount of effort put in by the promoting clubs, the Youth Commission, the sponsors and all those associated with the weekend, especially all the young riders who give it their very best over the two days of competition.
2010 All Ireland Youth Championships Results: