The continued success of junior cyclists has been described as “magic” by Dubbo Cycle Club president Matthew Gilbert.
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Five local youngsters have been named in the 16-rider NSW squad for the National Junior Road Championships to be held in Tasmania in early September.
Luke Ensor, Danny Barber, Haylee Fuller and Dylan and Kurt Eather were named in the squad, which was announced on Monday following the weekend’s NSW Junior Road Championships.
The efforts of the Dubbo contingent was stunning, with the five riders combining to win 15 medals.
That haul now means Dubbo Cycle Club has collected an incredible 32 gold, 32 silver and 20 bronze medals at the state and national level, a record unparalleled anywhere in the country.
“As president I can’t help but admire riders who train as hard as they do and get the results,” Gilbert said.
“It’s magic to see their performances come to fruition at that level but we do still have the Australian titles to go now.”
Ensor, Fuller and the Eather brothers were apart of the NSW squad that contested the National Junior Road Championships in 2016, however on that occasion they were all first year riders in their respective divisions.
In 2017, the Dubbo five-some are second year riders in their respective divisions and based on their current form and 12 months of hard work, they are all realistic chances of returning from Tasmania with medals.
Gilbert said Kurt Eather in particular is every chance of becoming a national champion but he was also wary, saying “people have come out of the blue” at the highest level before.
Eather has been the most dominant rider in the under-17 men’s division this season – clean sweeping the State Championship gold medals last weekend, while Ensor has timed his form to perfection, turning in a solid performance at the state titles to secure his place in the squad.
Fuller, despite her stature, has announced herself as the strongest and toughest rider in the under 15 women’s division and joins a strong NSW squad with some extremely realistic medal chances.
Barber, so often the bridesmaid to Dylan Eather, has taken his form to another level recently, taking out the Hunter Junior Tour and taking gold in the individual time trial on the weekend.
Dylan Eather’s performance as a first year under 15 in 2016 yielded medals at his first National Junior Road Championships and after another hugely impressive track season and road season in 2017, will be earmarked as the rider to beat in that division this year.
“No one wants to put too much onus on them but there is some exciting talent,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert added the success was down to the incredible amount of work the youngsters put in and also the work of outstanding Dubbo Cycle Club coaches Vaughan Eather and Gus Dawson.
“They’re a wonderful bunch of kids and in every training session they give every ounce of energy and they’ve worked extremely hard,” he said.
“They’ve worked on the road and the track and they’re all great cyclists. They’ve really laid the smack down.”
Dubbo Cycle Club’s Janette Eather has also been named as a chaperone for the state squad, which will be coached by former Dubbo local Tom Dawson – the brother Gus, who has mentored riders to well over 50 national titles.
The national titles run from September 1-3 at Devonport.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
