Teen brings two State titles back from Bathurst

ALEX Nicholls made up for disappointing results at State track cycling championships earlier this year by winning two State titles at Bathurst on the

weekend.

The 13-year-old Tamworth cyclist won the State Under 15 Girls’ Hillclimb Championship at Mt Panorama last Saturday and then returned to the famous motor car racing venue to win Sunday’s State Under 15 Criterium.

Her coach, Kevin Bartlett, was delighted by the teenager’s success.

“It was a pretty tough race,” he said of Saturday’s 4.9km hillclimb which Nicholls covered in 11mins 43secs.

“It was a very good ride and quicker than the Under 17 and Under 19 girls’ winners as well.

“That’s tremendous from a 13-year-old.

“Alex was pretty disappointed at the track titles.

“She had a couple of PBs there but didn’t go as well as she thought she could have.

“But she’s been training hard.”

The first road event of the road racing season has her buoyed for some fast approaching two-day tours in Wagga, Goulburn and then Tamworth (June).

Nicholls wasn’t the only Tamworth rider racing at Mt Panorama on the weekend either.

Kierin Lewis was 10th in his State Hillclimb and sixth in the criterium while his father, Graham Lewis, and Mitch Carrington also rode in the Masters and Under 23 divisions.

Meanwhile, Tamworth Cycling Club staged a 35km handicap event at Loomberah on Saturday.

Michael Swain beat Anthony Heeney and John Saunders in the senior race while Jess Saunders beat sister Tori Saunders and Ben Gamlin in the junior event.

This weekend is a busy one for the TCC with racing at New Winton Road on Saturday and the annual John Dewhurst Memorial on Sunday.

The John Dewhurst Memorial starts and finishes at Dungowan Hotel.