The racing season is well underway and the events are coming thick and fast for Team Forestside Youth. Sunday training runs have paid off as the guys took on not one but two Criterium events in one week.

Criterium races are usually run over a short course of less than one mile and, for the younger  age groups will generally involve one or two laps of the course. Newtownards criterium event attracts riders from as young as five years old right up to the top A Class riders and is a spectacular event closing down the whole town centre one way system to allow them to race safely.

Ben, Cameron, Matthew and Luke from Team Forestside were entered in the Under 12 category and had a great night competing in their first experience of Crit racing.

Lee, Centre Manager congratulated Ards Cycling Club and Ards Council on a fantastically well organised event which proved great fun for the young and adult riders.

After just one days rest it was off to Ormeau Park on Friday for another Crit event and another brilliant evening competing amongst riders of exceptional skill and speed. One again congratulations, this time to Phoenix Cycling Club for hosting the event, McConvey cycles for their sponsorship and Belfast City Council for the organisation.

Our youngest rider Sean deserves a special mention for joining in at the ripe old age of 5 years old, bringing Dad along for the ride! And well done to David who is our newest recruit and taking part as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze award physical challenge programme. David has really put the effort in since joining the guys with relatively little experience; he has joined spin classes to increase his fitness and stamina and has progressed now to the point where he is right up there holding his own with the club riders. Fabulous achievement David!

Having just discovered Crit racing this year, it has Team Forestside’s highest recommendation for kids recreational riding as it is so well organised and provides a safe  environment for children to experience the atmosphere and adrenaline of competitive racing.

Our Team had a ball and will definitely be back next year, a bit more experienced in Crit racing and hungry for points and victories.