Teenage Halesowen cycling star strikes gold at national championships
Halesowen cycling starlet Rose Lewis struck gold at the national youth and junior track championships.
The 16-year-old and team-mate Melanie Rowe were the dominant force in the girls youth madison race at Manchester velodrome, winning five out of six sprints.
Their total of 31 points was more than double that of the second place pair, Izzy Barbour and Eve Fairbain.
It was Lewis’ second medal of the week after she took silver, behind Rowe, in the youth elimination race, having battled her way through from the back of the field. She also narrowly missed out on a medal in the individual pursuit, finishing fourth.
Lewis is a member of Halesowen’s cycling academy who has also won national medals this year in cyclo-cross and circuit racing, establishing herself as one of the brightest young female cyclists in the country.
The nationals came just a few days after both she and Rowe had returned from competing for GB in the National Youth Olympic Festival in North Macedona.
Rowe took bronze in the road race event thanks to the help of Lewis, who led out her team-mate for the final sprint.
Lewis was not the only Halesowen ace in action during the five days of competition in Manchester, with Ryan Oldfield also catching the eye by winning three bronze medals.
The 18-year-old battled his way onto the podium in the kilometre time trial, madison and the junior elimination race.
