Oakwood cyclists race to a clutch of medals

Fourteen members of the team took part in the event in Portsmouth, which drew competitors from all over the UK.

Last year a fantastic effort by Polly Williams meant the Oakwood Racers achieved one national bronze medal. This year, they surpassed themselves.

Racing involved an Olympic-style omnium, where each competitor had to ride in three different types of race: the pursuit, a race against the clock, the sprint, a one-lap dash usually against one or two other riders, and finally a scratch race, a multiple lap race with a group.

Oakwood are now national hard track cycling champions for under-eight boys and girls and under-ten boys and girls.

Individual national medals were won by Maddison Calvesbert-Sharp (bronze, under-eight girls), Poppy Pattinson (bronze, under-ten girls) and Jessica Clarke (silver, under-ten girls). Gabriel Barwick won the south of England championship gold medal for under-eight boys.

Marlon Moncrieffe, head of maths and a silver medallist at the 2010 World Masters track cycling championships, said: “What an incredible result!

“The whole team have been training hard and their enthusiasm and teamwork have really paid off.”