A DETERMINED young cyclist, who broke his collar bone, defied doctors’ orders to win a Welsh Championship.
Dylan Kerfoot-Robson, a year 10 pupil from Rydal Penrhos, Colwyn Bay, took the Welsh Cross Country Mountain Bike Championship title during a contest, held at Fforest Fields near Builth Wells on Sunday, June 27.
The Welsh classic course had more than 1000 feet of climbing packed into each 4.5 mile lap. The route was made harder by the blistering sun and temperatures, reaching 30°c.
Dylan rode in the juvenile category, in his first race since breaking his collar bone in a bike crash.
A spokeswoman for Rydal Penrhos school said: “Doctors had advised him not to ride but with a Welsh title up for grabs, and the honour of racing in a Welsh Champions jersey for the rest of the season, Dylan had ridden a couple of practice laps the previous afternoon and decided that it would be possible to control the risks by riding hard on the climbs and taking it easy through the rooty, single track descents.”
Dylan built up a 20 second lead on his rivals by using a steep climb to get in front of the other cyclists. The youth and sport riders had started one and two minutes in front of him, but the talented cyclist went on to take the title. Cycling through pine trees made it hard for him to pick up speed, but he came back into the finish straight with more than a one minute lead intact.
The school spokeswoman added: “The gold medal and Welsh Champions jersey were a just reward for the hours spent riding on the turbo trainer in the garage with his arm in a sling. The strain this put on his back and good arm meant that he had split many of his training sessions, riding in the morning and evening to keep his fitness whilst his collar bone healed.
“Well done to Dylan for the incredible stamina and determination it took him to get this title, and best of luck for the next competition,” she added.