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James Berry - 2004 News Items
7th November
The team's trips to the velodrome and the
purchase of two Terry Dolan track bikes have already started to pay dividends
with James Berry picking up a bronze medal and Mark Christian gaining a top
twelve position at this year's British national championships.
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James Berry and Mark Christian rode the bikes
at the British national track championships and their success in that event - a
bronze medal for James and a top twelve placing for Mark - has already repayed
the investment.
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* The three teams that the club entered in
the recent Shoprite Cycle for Life relay around the TT course raised a fantastic
£1,543 for the Mighty Oak Appeal and Hospice Care.
The B team's Matheu Marshall, Matthew Berry, Colum O'Shea, Oliver Honeybone,
James Berry, Oliver Shimmin and Daniel Nicol also did well to cover the distance
in 2.12.49 for a fine seventh place, while the all female team of Laura Faulds,
Caroline O'Neill, Laura Gage, Zara Harrison, Alicia Corlett, Laura Wasley and
Marie Noon stormed round in 2.21.45 to take the ladies prize in tenth spot.
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10th October
* James Berry made a fantastic start to his
track racing career by winning the bronze medal in the under 12's omnium event
at last Saturday's British national youth track championships in the Manchester
velodrome.
The omnium is a series of three events (Pursuit, Sprint and Time Trial) where
points are awarded to the competitors and the rider with the most points after
all the events is the winner.
Competing in a large field of over 30 of Britain's very best young cyclists,
James rode brilliantly to finish fifth in the pursuit, third in the sprint and
fifth in the time trial for an excellent third place overall.
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7th October
* Good luck to James Berry and Mark Christian
who will both be making their track racing debuts in this coming weekend's
British national youth championships at the Manchester velodrome.
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27th September
* A total of seven team members competed in
last Sunday's Rob Rohrer Memorial 25 time trial at Andreas.
Niall Shimmin won the juvenile event - held over one lap of the testing Bride
circuit (9.3 miles) - in an impressive time of 26 minutes dead. James Berry was
the runner-up in a very good 27.18, with Matheu Marshall clocking 29.36 for
third place. Oliver Shimmin was fourth in 30.22 and Matthew Berry fifth in
32.46.
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26th September
* James Berry and Mark Christian will be
visiting the Manchester velodrome next Thursday to brush up on their track
riding skills in preparation for their debut in the British national youth track
championships on October 6-10. Later in the month around 30 club members will
also be travelling to the velodrome for two days of intensive coaching.
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16th September
Meanwhile, James Berry and Mark Christian are
planning to compete in the forthcoming British youth track championships to be
held at the same venue between the 6th and 10th of October.
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7th September
The Royal Hall in the newly refurbished Villa
Marina was full to capacity for last Saturday night's annual prize presentation
ceremony for the Scottish Provident children's cycling league.
The overall class winners were Ben Cunningham, Kaitlin Slack, Alex Cain, Katie
Harris, Aaron Faragher, Kate Marshall, Joe Harris, Victoria Kinrade, Matthew
Davies, Laura Kinley, Joshua Knights, Eleanor Stokoe, Joshua Cowie, Michelle
Gage, Thomas Mazzone, Alicia Corlett (two categories), James Berry, Mark
Christian, Rebecca Whipp, Matthew Looker and Caroline O'Neill.
The evening ended with the presentation of four very prestigious awards, three
of which were being introduced for the first time.
In recognition of his outstanding performances on and off the Island,
twelve year old James Berry received the coveted Alex Forrest memorial cup.
Alex's widow, accompanied by her son Brian and grandson Ryan, presented the
trophy to James. Previous winners include Mark Cavendish and Christian Varley,
who both started their successful cycling careers in the Tuesday night league at
the NSC.
Finally, Mrs Rozanne Wilson, the widow of keen cyclist George Abbott Wilson, has
kindly set up an annual scholorship of £100 in memory of her late husband to
further the career of a deserving youngster. Man of the moment James Berry was
the grateful recipient for 2004 and he was very honoured to receive the cheque
from Mrs Wilson in person.
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2nd September
* Conditions were perfect for the 194
competitors who took part in the final round of the Scottish Provident league at
the NSC last Tuesday night.
Warming up for next weekend's GHS British national 10 mile time trial final,
Matthew Looker got the verdict over Mark Christian in the bunch gallop at the
end of the under 14/under 16 racing bikes event. Tom Black was third ahead of
Niall Shimmin, Mark Redhead, Sam Looker and James Berry.
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30th August
* Despite the damp conditions and the
travelling difficulties caused by the Manx Grand Prix practices, there was
another excellent turn out of 157 competitors at the NSC last Tuesday night for
the sixteenth and penultimate round of the Scottish Provident league.
In the final race of the night -the under 14/under 16's racing bikes - Mark
Christian took the chequered flag for the eighth time this season. Matthew
Looker was second followed by Niall Shimmin, Sam Looker, Tom Black and James
Berry.
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18th August
* A total of 160 competitors signed on for
round 15 of the Scottish Provident league, staged at a sun drenched NSC last
Tuesday night.
There were numerous attacks in the under 14/under 16's racing bikes twenty five
lapper. James Berry made a spirited attempt to break away at the start of the
last lap and succeeded in gaining a sizable gap before being reeled on on the
back straight. At the finish it was Mark Christian who took the sprint from Mark
Redhead and Tom Black. Caroline O'Neill was the leading girl again in seventh
spot.
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12th August
* Last Tuesday's wet weather cleared up just
in time for the start of round 14 of the Scottish Provident league. Despite the
damp conditions, a total of 158 youngsters made it down to the NSC for another
action packed evening of circuit racing.
Mark Christian made an early break in the under 14/under 16 racing bikes. He was
joined by Mark Redhead and James Berry, who was riding up a class. James
eventually lost contact, leaving the two Marks out on their own. At the finish
Christian outsprinted Redhead for another impressive victory, with Berry getting
the better of Tom Black for third place. Caroline O'Neill was the first girl in
seventh spot.
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7th August
* A squad of nine riders represented the club
with distinction in last weekend's Kerry International Youth Tour in the
Republic of Ireland.
Competing against top class opposition, James Berry added to his already
impressive tally of successes in 2004 by scoring a superb overall victory in the
under 12's category.
Following a very close battle, James eventually took the coveted winner's yellow
jersey with just one second in hand over Mark Baxter (PPV Palmer Park Velo), who
the previous week had pipped James for the gold medal in the British youth
championships.
James showed true grit throughout the tour, especially on the final stage when
he overcame a concerted challenge from the Welsh national team, whose top rider
Alex Greenfield was third overall, 7 seconds behind the young Manxman.
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5th August
* A total of 190 competitors took part in
round 13 of the Scottish Provident league, staged at a balmy NSC last Tuesday
night.
Resplendent in the yellow jersey he won at last weekend's Kerry International
Youth Tour, James Berry rode everyone off his wheel for yet another impressive
victory in the under 12's racing bikes. Thomas Mazzone was the runner-up ahead
of Oliver Shimmin and the fast improving Jonathan Cregeen.
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28th July 2004
* Round 12 of the club's Scottish Provident
league was held at the NSC last Tuesday night in perfect racing conditions.
Fresh from his silver medal winning success at last Sunday's British national
youth championships, James Berry left the rest of the field in his wake for an
emphatic victory in the under 12's racing bikes. Richard Foden was the runner-up
and Thomas Mazzone third. Jonathan Cregeen was a fine fourth ahead of Oliver
Shimmin, Christopher Nicholson and Adam Johnson.
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27th July 2004
* Great news - team member James Berry picked
up a silver medal in the under 12's category at British Cycling's national
circuit race championships, staged at Hillingdon near London last Sunday.
In the under 12's race James went from the gun and quickly built up a sizable
gap of about 50 yards. On the third of seven laps he was joined by Mark Baxter
(Palmer Park Velo). The two riders worked well together and succeeded in further
extending their lead to a comfortable 300 yards. On the penultimate lap,
however, Baxter refused to work and seemed content to bide his time sitting on
the young Manx rider's wheel. James led the sprint out for the chequered flag,
but it was the wily Baxter who got the verdict on the line.
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19th July 2004
* Good luck to team members Joshua Cowie and
James Berry in their respective off-island endeavours this coming weekend.
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17th July 2004
* The club is sending a small (by our
standards) team of nine riders to the forthcoming Kerry Youth Tour in the
Republic of Ireland.
James Berry, Jonathan Cregeen, Sam & Matthew Looker, Tom Black, Andrew & Matheu
Marshall, Mark Christian and Caroline O'Neill will all be competing in the
event, which starts on Saturday, 31st July and ends on Monday, 2nd August.
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14th July 2004
There was another good turn out of 223
competitors for last Tuesday night's round of the Scottish Provident league,
staged at an overcast but mainly dry NSC.
British Cycling's youth series silver medalist James Berry was the runaway
winner of the under 12's racing bikes. Richard Foden grabbed second place and
Thomas Mazzone recovered from a spill to take third spot. Adam Johnson (8th),
Lewis O'Connor (10th) and Alexander Haddock (11th) all continue to make good
progress in this very competitive class.
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12th July 2004
* Competing against the top juvenile cyclists
in Britain, James Berry has finished a brilliant second overall and first boy in
the under 12's category of British Cycling's prestigious national youth circuit
race series.
James led the competition going into last Sunday's final round in Kent, but knew
that he had to cross the line ahead of his main rivals to make sure of the
championship.
Despite coming an impressive third, James lost the number one spot in the
overall standings to the winner Sarah Reynolds (Brereton Wheelers), who like
most of the other girls in the series was riding down an age group.
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9th July 2004
* Several team members are competing off the
island this coming weekend. Matthew and Sam Looker, Mark Redhead and Laura Gage
will be on Merseyside for the Liverpool District Final of the GHS 10 mile time
trial championship, while James Berry is travelling all the way down to Kent to
defend his overall lead in the final round of British Cycling's national youth
circuit race series.
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6th July 2004
Conditions were perfect for the 264
competitors who took part in last Tuesday night's round of the Scottish
Provident circuit racing league.
In a powerful display of aggressive solo
riding, James Berry went from the gun for a convincing win in the under 12's
racing bikes, with Richard Foden leading the rest of the field home over half a
lap down.
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6th July 2004
Team Scottish Provident Isle of Man sent a
large squad of 24 riders to compete in last weekend's Youth Tour of Lichfield in
Staffordshire - the seventh and penultimate round of British Cycling's
prestigious youth circuit racing series.
Continuing his battle with girls up to four years older than himself, James
Berry kept his hopes of the series victory very much alive with a well earned
fifth overall and first boy in the under 12's age group. Richard Foden was not
far behind in sixth spot, with Jonathan Cregeen and Thomas Maaazone 16th and
17th. A bit further down the field Rebecca Whipp, Christopher Nicholson, Laura
Faulds and Andrew Marshall all tried hard in 21st, 24th, 25th and 30th places
respectively.
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30th June 2004
Despite the threatening weather conditions at
the NSC last Tuesday night, there was very good turnout of 207 competitors for
round nine of the Scottish Provident league.
The combined born 1994 and born 1993-91 group was won by Thomas Mazzone and
James Berry came out on top in the under 12's racing bikes. Alicia Corlett was
the leading girl in both races.
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17th June 2004
There was another fantastic turn out of 249
youngsters at the NSC last Tuesday evening (15th June) for round seven of the
club's summer youth league.
Once again the two racing bike events provided some very fast and exciting
action for the spectators. In the under 12's Richard Foden beat James Berry,
Oliver Shimmin and Thomas Mazzone in the lunge for the line, while Matthew
Looker pipped Mark Christian, Mark Redhead and Tom Black for his fourth win in
the under 14's and under 16's. Alicia Corlett and Caroline O'Neill were the best
girls in the two races.
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16th June 2004
* Four club members competed in round six of
British Cycling's national youth circuit race series, staged on the Hillingdon
circuit in London last Sunday (June 13th).
In the very competitive under 12's race James Berry was in the thick of the
action throughout. Unfortunately while leading the race, he went wide on the
final corner and was badly placed for the bunch sprint, crossing the line in a
disappointing 19th position.
James still retains a comfortable lead in the overall standings but with only a
rider's best five results to count, the final outcome will not be decided until
all eight rounds of the competition have been completed.
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9th June 2004
* With many of the regular competitors on
holiday or choosing not to venture out in the busy TT traffic, there was a
relatively low turn out of 91 youngsters for round six of the Scottish Provident
league, staged in excellent conditions at the NSC last night (Tuesday, 8th
June).
British Cycling's national series leader James Berry went from the gun in the
"under 12's racing bikes" and was never headed, while Oliver Shimmim and
Jonathan Cregeen scored their best results to date in second and third positions
respectively.
* There were some more outstanding performances from team members at last
Sunday's Brentwood Town Centre Criteriums - the fifth round of British Cycling's
national youth circuit race series.
Mark Christian and James Berry were an excellent third and fourth in the under
14 and under 12 classes respectively, with Caroline O'Neill the fourth best girl
in the former category.
In the overall standings James has further increased his lead in the under 12's,
while Mark has maintained his second spot in the under 14's.
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1st June 2004
* Club members James Berry, Mark Christian,
Caroline O'Neill and Jonathan Cregeen are competing in this coming Sunday's
Brentwood Town Centre Criteriums in Essex.
On the following Sunday James, Mark and Caroline will be in
London for the Hillingdon Youth Circuit
Races. Both events are part of British Cycling's national youth circuit race
series.
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27th May 2004
* Another large total of 260 competitors took
part in the latest round (May 25th) of the Scottish Provident league, held in
perfect conditions at a sun drenched NSC.
James Berry got an early gap in the under 12's racing bikes and held it to the
line, leaving chasers Richard Foden and Oliver Shimmin to fight over second
place. Newcomer Adam Johnson was an excellent seventh against much more
experienced opposition.
* Team members James Berry, Mark Christian and Tom Black were in London last
weekend for round four of British Cycling's national youth circuit race series.
Overcoming the very hot conditions, James was ninth in the under 12's class,
with Mark and Tom finishing fifth and nineteenth respectively in the under 14's
age group.
In the overall standings James maintains a comfortable lead in his group a clear
29 points ahead of his nearest rival Callum Thompson (Team Keyne). In the under
14's, however, Mark has been demoted from joint first to second and Tom has
dropped from equal third to fifth.
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19th May 2004
* James Berry, Mark Christian and Tom Black
will be making the long journey down to London this coming weekend to compete in
the fourth round of British Cycling's national youth circuit race series at the
Lee
Valley circuit, Eastway. James and Mark will
be defending their overall leads in the under 12 and under 14 age groups
respectively, while Tom will be hoping to improve on his third place in the
latter category.
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19th May 2004
* There was an all-time record turn out of
286 competitors for round four of the Scottish Provident children's cycling
league, staged at the NSC last Tuesday night (May 18th).
There were repeat wins for Joshua Cowie and Thomas Mazzone in the "born 1994"
and "born 1993/92/91" classes and Richard Foden outsprinted James Berry in the
under 12's racing bikes event.
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13th May 2004
* After three rounds of British Cycling's
youth circuit race series TSPIOM members James Berry, Mark Christian and Tom
Black are holding on to top three positions overall. James leads the under 12's
with an extended advantage of 31 points over Callum Thompson (Team Keyne) and
Mark shares the number one spot with Alex Aldham-Breary (PCA Ciclos Uno) in the
under 14's. Following his excellent performance in the latest round in Cardiff,
Tom has moved up to joint third in the u/14's, just 15 points behind the two
leaders.
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6th May 2004
* Well done to the 29 Team Scottish Provident
Isle of Man members who competed so well in the recent Manx Youth Tour.
TSP riders won four of the five classes, with overall honours going to Mark
Christian in the under 14's, James Berry in the under 12's, Joshua Cowie in the
under 10's and Matthew Davies in the under 8's.
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5th May 2004
* Good luck to team members James Berry, Mark
Christian, Tom Black, Mark Redhead, Laura Gage and Caroline O'Neill who will all
be competing in this weekend's Maindy Flyers Youth Tour in Wales. The two-day
event is the third leg of British Cycling's national circuit race series. After
two rounds of the competition James is leading the under 12's class overall and
Mark (Christian) and Tom are joint first and fifth respectively in the under
14's category.
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22nd April 2004
* Great news! After two rounds of British
Cycling's national youth circuit race series Team Scottish Provident riders
James Berry and Mark Christian are both leading their respective classes. James
heads the under 12's age group by a clear 5 points from Callum Thompson (Team
Keyne - Trek), while Mark shares first place with Joss Bently (Liverpool
Century) in the under 14's category. Other club members to feature in the top
ten overall standings are Tom Black (equal fifth in the under 14's) and Jonathan
Cregeen (tenth in the under 12's).
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18th April 2004
* There were some more brilliant off-Island
performances from Team Scottish Provident members at last weekend's East Riding
of Yorkshire 3-day Youth Tour.
The event, which was the second round of British Cycling's prestigious youth
circuit race series, consisted of a hill climb, a time trial and two circuit
races.
Overcoming the sometimes very cold, wet and windy conditions, James Berry was an
impressive third overall in the under 12's class and was the first boy to finish
behind two older girls riding down two age groups.
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15th April 2004
* Team members James Berry, Tom Black, Mark
Christian and Laura Gage are all competing in this coming weekend's East Riding
of Yorkshire Youth Tour. The event is the second round of British Cycling's
national circuit race series. James, Tom and Mark (Christian) all had brilliant
rides in last Sunday's opening round in Sunderland, picking up bag full of
points towards their final overall positions in the competition.
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12th April 2004
* Team Scottish Provident members got their
off-Island racing season off to a flying start over the Easter weekend with a
string of superb performances in the North East of England.
On Sunday the team competed with great success in the Hetton Hawks criteriums -
the opening round of British Cycling's national youth circuit racing series. In
the under 12's category James Berry was an excellent 2nd,with Jonathan Cregeen
not very far behind in 7th place. In the under 14's Mark Christian was an
impressive 3rd and Tom Black a very good 6th, while Caroline O'Neill was the 4th
best girl in 16th spot overall. Unfortunately, Mark Redhead crashed in the under
16's event and was forced to retire.
In the previous day's Hetton Hawks stage race at the same venue James Berry,
Jonathan Cregeen and Tom Black were 2nd, 3rd and 2nd in their respective
classes, which was good enough to give Team Scottish Provident the team award.
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7th April 2004
* Good luck to team members James Berry, Tom
Black, Jonathan Cregeen, Mark Christian, Caroline O'Neill and Mark Redhead, who
will all be travelling to Sunderland this weekend to compete in the opening
round of British Cycling's national youth circuit racing series.
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Team RL 360 Isle of Man
