JACK WOODS – Youth’s Award

At any age, National titles are hard to come by but this year, Carlow cyclist, Jack Woods, completed a glorious All-Ireland double when he won back to back under 16 National Road Race Titles.

Cycling is a tough sport which requires time and commitment while a good sporting brain is vital.

The winner, who trains seven days a week around the roads of Carlow, used all that he knew to regain his crown. He got into a two-man break at the start of the second lap of a 20km three-lap event.

The two were caught with just 15 kilometres to go. It can be hard to go again as much energy is lost in group breakaways. The Presentation College student knew that it would take a huge effort to win. On the other hand, he calculated that his main rivals would conclude that he was quite tired. The young Carlow sports star dug deep.

With the finishing line fast approaching it was a game of cat and mouse.

The group was snaking from one side of the road to the other. When they went one way, Woods took his chance and went the opposite side. It worked out. When it came down to a sprint, he went again and overpowering his rivals, he cross the line winning by ten lengths to retain his title.

The two-times national champion trains continues to train seven days a week and after competing in races in France and Belgium, he is set to go abroad where he will take part in UCI ranked events. He has signed on for a Belgium team and it was an exciting moment when he was presented with his bike and team kit by Crabbe Dyftny. His new team is a feeder for the established Lotto team. He is also part of the Cycling Ireland Pathway High Performance team. Exciting times ahead for the Carlow cyclist