The Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales in Newport hosted exciting racing with riders vying for glory at the PDQ Battle on the Boards. Para-cycling national titles were claimed, sprinting spectacles captivated, and endurance battles pushed riders to their limits.
Endurance events
The National Para-scratch Championships kicked off the weekend with an incredible performance from Xavier Disley (AeroCoach), who stormed to victory by lapping the field early on in the 10km race. Behind him, a thrilling sprint finish saw Charlie Stanton-Stock (Loughborough Students) edge out Finlay Webb for second place.
In the open scratch race, Ryan Oldfield (Halesowen A&CC) emerged victorious in a fiercely competitive field, holding off Will Roberts (Saint Piran), who powered to second, and Matt Bostock (Ribble Rebellion) in third. Roberts didn’t let the loss linger, fighting back to claim the elimination race ahead of Oldfield, with Bostock again in third.
The points race was a high-octane affair, with Roberts winning four sprints to secure the overall title. Bostock’s consistent top-three finishes kept him in contention, finishing just three points behind, while Archie Fletcher (360cycling) claimed a hard-fought third place.
The women’s endurance races were equally captivating. Katie-Anne Calton (Boompods) delivered a brilliant sprint to win the scratch race, leaving Hannah Williams (Tactic UK) and Mathilde Pauls (FTP Racing) in her wake. Tiffany Fletcher (Flamme Rouge Roule) turned the tables in the elimination race, outsprinting Calton for the win as Mari Porton (Toufati Everyone Active) clinched third.
Porton’s determination shone brightest in the points race, where she sealed overall victory with two sprint wins. Pauls surged late to take second, while a steady performance from Mabli Phillips (Maindy Flyers CC) saw her finish third.
Sprint events
The women’s sprint belonged to Georgette Rand (Velo Club Lincoln), who was untouchable throughout the competition. Her blistering 11.278 in the flying 200m qualification set the tone, and she dominated match sprints to claim overall victory ahead of Kirsty Johnson (Edinburgh RC) and Anna Whitworth-Hay (Black Line).
In the men’s sprint, national champion Pete Mitchell (Black Line) reaffirmed his supremacy, taking the top spot over Lyall Craig (Glasgow Track Racing Club) and Matt Rotherham (ESV Manchester). The action continued in the keirin, with Will Munday (Glasgow Track Racing Club) timing his sprint perfectly to outpace Jack Pearson (HUUB BCC Race Team) and Dylan Bowen in a thrilling final.
Huge thanks to organiser Jason Streather and PDQ Cycle Coaching for hosting this spectacular event.
