The Inter Schools Challenge
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Olympic Hero Hayles Visits Rosendale
Newly crowned National Road Champion Rob Hayles made a visit to Rosendale Primary School in Herne Hill yesterday (17th July) to congratulate pupils who took part in the Smithfield Nocturne Inter Schools Challenge.
Rob poses with the Rosendale riders
The Transport for London supported Inter Schools Challenge took place on 7th June as part of the Smithfield Nocturne cycling event and saw Primary Schools from selected schools in London compete in a roller racing knockout competition.
Rosendale Primary School came out on top with pupils Lilani Vanelast and Iago O’Flynn winning the boys and girls competitions. As victors in the schools competition Rosendale were also given the opportunity to meet an Olympic athlete.
Triple Olympic medallist Hayles spoke in front of the whole school before presenting the sports day prize to the winning team. Photos were taken with the Inter Schools Challenge competitors before Hayles was mobbed by autograph hungry pupils.
Thankfully, Hayles survived the experience and praised the cycling initiative, “It was great to meet the young riders who competed at Smithfield. I used to race up at Crystal Palace when I was just starting out and that really helped develop as a young cyclist.”
“It’s is important to give kids as many opportunities as possible to get into cycling” he continued. “Particularly the racing side so hopefully initiatives like this will continue and help develop more young cyclists in London.”
Organisers of the Smithfield Nocturne are planning to develop the Inter Schools Challenge across London with plans to introduce a youth circuit race to the event in 2009.
Signing autographs at Rosendale
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Results
An exciting evening of roller racing at the Smithfield Nocturne saw budding riders from London primary schools racing their hearts out in front of the Nocturne crowds.
In the end Rosendale primary school took the honours in both the boys and girls competitions with Iago O'Flynn and Lilani Vanelast triumphant overall.
All the finalists had a fantastic evening as they mingled with the stars of the racing and enjoyed the experience of being a rider at the event. At the end of the competition everyone got up on stage for the presentations with the winners and runners up going on a lap of the course in a Mustang. Full results below...
Photo copyright Larry Hickmott (British Cycling)
Boys
Qualifying
| Hisham Al-Ramah | 28.45 | 11 | 19.8 | Rosendale |
| Iago O'Flynn | 28.81 | 10 | 19.5 | Rosendale |
| Stanley Myers-O'Mulloy | 29.02 | 11 | 29.0 | Rosendale |
| Kuba Blewjas | 29.7 | 11 | 18.9 | Rosendale |
| Luke Jackson-Clarke | 31.84 | 10 | 17.7 | Keston |
Semi Finals
| Hisham Al-Ramah (29.09) | beat | Kuba Blewjas (30.73) |
| Iago O'Flynn (27.64) | beat | Stanley Myers-O'Mulloy (28.70) |
Grand Final
| Iago O'Flynn (27.51) | beat | Hisham Al-Ramah (27.75) |
Girls
Qualifying
| Lilani Vanelast | 28.43 | 11 | 19.8 | Rosendale |
| Emily Whitaker | 29.65 | 10 | 19.0 | Rosendale |
| Ellie Davies | 29.68 | 11 | 19.0 | Rosendale |
| Gerogina Taylor | 29.75 | 9 | 18.9 | Keston |
| Lioe Howard | 32.42 | 10 | 17.4 | Rosendale |
Semi Finals
| Lilani Vanelast (29.37) | beat | Gerogina Taylor (31.87) |
| Elle Davies (29.84) | beat | Emily Whitaker (30.32) |
Grand Final
| Lilani Vanelast (29.06) | beat | Elle Davies (29.95) |
Introduction
New for the 2008 Smithfield Nocturne will be the Inter Schools Challenge supported by Transport for London and Go-Ride. Children from participating schools will take part in an exclusive roller race competition where kids will set a fastest time over 250m.
We will be hosting qualification events at three schools in advance of the Smithfield Nocturne. The two fastest boys and two fastest girls from each school will qualify for the finals. In addition, the next two fastest boys and girls from all the schools will also qualify setting up a knock out competition at the Smithfield Nocturne on Saturday 7th June.
The finalists will enjoy the experience of being an official rider at the event providing access to the rider enclosure where they can mingle with the professionals. They will also race in front of the Smithfield Nocturne crowd in an elimination competition leading to a boys and girls grand final.
The overall winners will get to ride a lap of honour and will go home with some fantastic prizes.
Schools Competition
For the riders who don't qualify they will receive a certificate with their time which they can aim to beat at future roller racing events. They will also get the opportunity to take part in the Go-Ride skills competition at the Smithfield Nocturne where they will ride for their school in an overall schools competition.
The winning school will get a visit from a top Olympic cyclist providing plenty of incentive for riders to rise to the challenge.
2008 Participating Schools
The schools that will take part in the inaugural Inter Schools Challenge will be:
Duppas Junior School - Croydon
Keston Primary School - Keston
Rosendale Primary School - West Dulwich
For more information on the Go-Ride scheme please go to www.go-ride.org.uk
What is Roller Racing?
Two students race against each other on a genuine track racing bike on static rollers, their progress is displayed by two hands on a huge dial attached to the bikes by gears and cables - picture above.
The Smithfield Nocturne Inter Schools Challenge will be run in association with Rollapaluza Roller Racing.
For more info go to www.rollapaluza.com
The Smithfield Nocturne Inter Schools Challenge is powered by Rollapaluza Roller Racing
