BMX TEAM
Lucy McClintock, Lucy Gardner, Lucy Groundwater, Corey Macaskill, Lewis Walker, David O’Prey.
Thursday, 26th of August the Ulster BMX Race team set off to compete at the School Games National finals in Loughborough University, along with more than 1,500 other competitors over 11 different sports.
On arrival, the team quickly met their colleagues from England, Scotland and Wales before attending the Opening Ceremony, complete with mobile phone light show.
The competition spanned over three days with Friday and Saturday based at the university and Sunday at the Derby BMX race track.
On day one the team started with a Strength and Conditioning workshop led by one of British Cycling’s national coaches as well as participating in several interactive sessions with an athlete mentor to learn about the values, effort and mental wellbeing necessary to become a top athlete. They also had the opportunity to practice on the flat skills course ahead of Saturday’s competition and after dinner took part in a “ninja warrior” style obstacle course which tested body and mind to complete the full lap.
This was followed by a much more relaxing BMX quiz which offered the chance for all teams to mix and get to know each other in a more informal setting.
Saturday was another early start for the full day of flat skills competition, including wheelies, sprints, bunny hops to name but a few.
The final event was a race around a flat course in Shirley Pearse Square within the university. This tested all rider’s abilities and had more than its far share of thrills and spills !
On Sunday morning the team travelled to Derby to take part in the BMX racing competition, up against former world champions, and potentially future Olympic athletes, so the level of competition was very high. Although none of the riders managed to make it through to the final, they all did themselves and Cycling Ulster proud.
After what was a “once in a lifetime” experience, the team swapped race jerseys with other riders, before heading back with many new friends and memories of a fantastic weekend
