Page stakes claim for future Games bike spot

A FORMER Island Games long and triple jump medallist is making a name for himself in cycling. Adam Page, elder brother of North Priaulx player Paul and a former Northerners' first-teamer himself, beat some of the island's top riders over 10 miles at the Andover Wheelers Weyhill Weekend.

His time-trial effort of 20min. 4sec. would thrust the Kingston Wheeler into contention for a place in Guernsey's 2009 Island Games team in Aland, if not cycling had been omitted for that particular games.

But that has not stopped Page, 28, registering his keenness to join the Guernsey Velo Club as a second-claim member and pulling on the GVC vest in inter-insulars and future Games.

Indeed Page, who has made rapid strides in the sport he took up seriously only last season, has half an eye on a Commonwealth Games spot.

His winning Andover time was a Kingston Wheelers club record and puts him up there with the top GVC riders.

Among his scalps at Andover was Island Games rider Aaron Bailey, who he beat by five seconds.

'This is my first full season of proper racing and taking it a bit more seriously,' said the gym club manager from his base in East Molesey.

'I did OK last year with some reasonable times. This year I've broken a couple of club records,' said the man who was plagued by injuries in his final days as an athlete and footballer.

'I've gone from being a fourth category rider to second this summer and won a couple of road races. I've been quite pleased with it. I think I've found my vocation.'

Page estimates that his 20-04 will put him in the top 30-40 riders in the UK this year. Of the GVC contingent only Paul Brehaut is thought to have gone more quickly and broken 20min. in 2007.

'I have to say I much more enjoy the training for cycling than athletics,' he said.

'An hour out on the bike is much better than an hour's sprint training on the track.'

All in all, the GVC contingent had a good weekend in Andover with seven personal bests from 10 rides.

Of the Guernsey-based riders, Bailey set a new personal best of 20.09 - just shy of 30mph.

Guernsey's other senior representative, Mike Dean, also clocked a personal best of 20.36, while the winner was David McGaw of the Oxford University CC in 19.02.

Gary Wallbridge and Allan Renyard competed in the 50 years and over event against 68 other competitors. Wallbridge rewrote his own personal best time with a 22.27 for 27th place, while Renyard achieved what will probably be his ultimate time at the distance with 22.46 for 34th place. The winner of this event was John Dowling of the Hemel Hempstead CC with 20.34.

The fifth Guernsey rider competing was Callum Hill-Smith in his first event on the mainland at the tender age of 15. He clocked a fine 23.10 for ninth.

In the following morning's 25-miler Bailey avenged his defeat by Page over 10, beating him by 10sec. Bailey was again the top Guernsey rider with 56.14, with Dean clocking 57.16.

Hill-Smith produced another personal best ride of 1.01.57 and of the five Sarnian riders, he appeared to be the only one who was not jaded from the previous day.

Wallbridge managed to prune two seconds off his personal best with 1-01.42, while Renyard struggled around with 1-03.07.