TWO talented young Oxfordshire riders claimed both gold and sliver medals at the National School Games finals at Loughborough.
Millie Couzens, the 14-year-old Bicester School pupil won a gold medal in the road race and came third in the elimination competition.
And Abingdon’s Maddie Wadsworth, from John Mason School, Abingdon, picked up her gold and silver in the under 16 events.
On the first day, Couzens rode a smart race to stay in contention and bag bronze in the elimination final.
But her moment of glory came in the road race.
The bumpy circuit really tested the riders but Couzens was more than up to the challenge as the lead group was gradually whittled down.
Attacking on the final circuit, Couzens broke clear and stormed to victory, crossing the line with arms aloft.
After her victory, she said: “I’ve loved every minute of it, and I’m just super happy.”
Wadsworth, of John Mason School, Abingdon pupil – like Couzens a member of the England Central team – captured gold in the street sprint and silver in the elimination race.
In the street sprint final, Wadsworth lined up as favourite having set the fastest time in qualifying
After her silver in the elimination race the previous day, she managed to get her own back on Scottish rider Imani Pereira-James who had beaten her on the track, to come first.
Wadsworth said: “It was a really good day at the track, really interesting. I attacked in the scratch race but it didn’t quite work out so was really proud to get second in my first ever elimination race. Then the street sprints were even better.”
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