Dubbo Cycle Club riders have claimed 26 Australia titles in the past two years, but this weekend the focus turns to the next generation of champions.
The best under 9 to under 13 riders from across the state will converge on the Victoria Park Cycle Track for the NSW Junior Cycling Championships.
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About 60 juniors will compete in time trials, scratch races and sprints on Saturday and Sunday, with the most outstanding among them to be presented with the Jackson Pascoe Memorial Trophy, named in honour of the state gold medallist who died tragically in a road accident, aged 8, in 2005.
Past memorial winners include Australian Institute of Sport cyclist and under 23 criterium champion Cameron Scott (2010), as well as local champions Luke Ensor (2013) and Dylan Eather (2015).
“There’s a lot of care taken as to who is the deserving winner,” DCC president Matthew Gilbert said.
“The fact that riders have gone on to bigger and better things typifies the value of that award.”
Gilbert said Emily Hines – known as ‘Goldie’ due to her propensity for winning – Jessica, Jarryd and twins Imogen and Makayla Fuller, and Georgia and Lachlan Farr would all give city riders a run for their money.
Nine-year-old “super” Cooper Farr was another to watch, he said, on a bike that has produced many champions, known as the Red Rocket.
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“Cooper is one of the riders who … will take the race by the scruff of the neck,” Gilbert said.
“I remember once, he was in a handicap, he took off like a startled gazelle and didn’t look back and the other riders didn’t have a chance – he won through his sheer tenacity.”
He said the home championships would give local riders a slight advantage, but not much.
“The beauty of that track is that you can win from the front, you can win from the back,” he said.
“The only advantage that home riders will have is you’re going to need to make your move decisive, otherwise you can be caught napping.
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“It’s fast, it’s fair and it’s got the tradition of bringing out the best in each of the riders.”
