Team RL 360 Isle of Man
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James Berry - 2005 News Items 26th December * The dates for the 2006 Kerry Youth Tour are the 5th, 6th and 7th of August. Following the demise of the Manchester Youth Tour in 2002, the Kerry race has become the premier youth tour in Britain and Ireland. The club has supported the event every year since its inception in 1999, with James Berry giving us our first ever overall victory in 2004. 22nd December * Shoprite recently made a very generous donation of £1,000 to club funds. The money is part of the total raised by the company in its 2005 charity cycle ride, staged around the TT course and on Douglas promenade last September. The Team Scottish Provident "A" squad of Mark Christian, James Berry, Tom Black, Niall Shimmin, Colum O'Shea, Mark Redhead and Matthew Looker won the main event. Meanwhile, Ellan Vannin CC has presented the club with a cheque for £246 - the proceeds from this year's Rob Rohrer Memorial 25 mile time trial. A big thank you to both organisations 20th December There was also some good news for Mark's TSPIOM team mate James Berry. Despite being too young for this year's intake, James impressed the British Cycling coaches so much that he has been co-opted onto the 2006 Team with a view to gaining full membership later in the year. 16th December * James Berry and Mark Christian travel to Manchester this weekend for the last of British Cycling's selection events for 2006 Talent Team hopefuls. The names of the successful candidates will be announced in the near future. 7th December The 'A' team consisting of Niall Shimmin, Colum O'Shea, Matthew Looker, Tom Black, Mark Christian, James Berry and Mark Redhead stormed around the 37.75 mile circuit in a very impressive 1 hour 41minutes and 44 seconds to win the event outright. The much fancied Manx Telecom septet of senior riders had to settle for second place some 43 seconds adrift of the TSP youngsters, with the Bikestyle Bandits third at 4mins 01 secs and the IOM Cycling Association fourth a further 9 seconds down. Plod Power and the IOM Fire Service completed the top six in 1.51.37 and 1.52.30 respectively. 12th November * Team members James Berry and Mark Christian acquitted themselves well at the recent British Cycling Talent Team selection events in Manchester. Both have been invited back to the next session in December. 1st November * James Berry and Mark Christian will both be in Manchester this weekend for a two-day training camp. The event is the latest stage in British Cycling's selection process for the 2006 Talent Team. 8th October In the under 14's and under 16's age groups James Berry and Mark Christian competed just two rounds for 16th and 28th places overall. 1st October * Club members James Berry and Mark Christian have been invited by British Cycling to join an elite group of Britain's top young cyclists on a special coaching day in Manchester on October 15th. The event has been arranged so that British Cycling coaches can have a closer look at the riders with a view to selecting new members for the Talent Team. 22nd September * The Team Scottish Provident "A" squad of Mark Christian, Matthew Looker, Tom Black, James Berry, Niall Shimmin, Colum O'Shea and Mark Redhead stormed to victory in last Sunday's Shoprite Charity Cycle Challenge relay around the TT course. The team covered the 37.75 miles in an impressive 1hr 41mins 54secs to beat Manx Telecom by some 30 seconds. The "B", "C" and "TSP Dads" teams also put in some good performances. More details to follow. 17th September The overall class winners were named as Corey Phillips, Kirsty Walsh, Thomas Holden, Caitlyn Smith, Marcus Simpson, Victoria Watson, Owen Dudley, Emily Kelly, Matthew Bostock, Victoria Kinrade, Matthew Davies, Laura Kinley, Joshua Knights, Eleanor Stokoe, Alexander Haddock, Alicia Corlett, Thomas Mazzone, Alexandra Christian, James Berry, Mark Christian and Caroline O'Neill. 11th September James Berry also put in an outstanding performance to take the 13 year old honours in 30th position overall with a very good 24.39. 6th September * There were some outstanding performances from the 24 team members who competed in the recent Midlands Youth Tour, held at various venues in the Wolverhampton area. In the under 14's class James Berry was on top form again, grabbing a fine 6th overall. James got off to a flying start by finishing second in the opening day's time trial behind eventual winner Dominic Schills (Interbike RT), who dominated the class with three stage wins. A sixth on the second stage and two eighths on stages 3 and 4 put James on the top six leader board a mere one point short of Thomas Wieckonski (Halesowen CC) in fifth place. 5th September * Good luck to James Berry, Tom Black, Mark Christian, Jonathan Cregeen, Matthew Looker, Caroline O'Neill and Rebecca Whipp who will be travelling down to Cambridge this weekend to compete against the cream of Britain's youth cyclists in the national final of the prestigious GHS 10 mile time trial championship. The under 14's / under 16's racing bikes event was reduced in distance due to the failing light. Matthew Looker, Mark Redhead, James Berry, Sam Looker and Matheu Marshall formed an early break and worked well together to preserve their lead. At the finish Matthew Looker narrowly won the sprint from Redhead, with Berry the best under 14 in third spot. Marshall was an impressive fourth - one of his best rides of the year - and Sam Looker, who is still recovering from illness, tied with Adam Johnson for fifth. Alicia Corlett was the best girl in ninth place and Tom Craine made a good debut in eleventh position. *James Berry and Mark Christian competed with distinction in the recent British national youth track championships at the Newport velodrome in Wales. Using the event mainly for experience, James was an excellent 5th overall (1st under 13 year old) in the under 14's omnium and Mark an impressive 12th (8th in his heat) in the final of the under 16's points race. In the three disciplines that make up the omnium James was 6th in the pursuit, 4th in the sprint and 8th in the 500m time trial. James and Mark still have another year to go in their respective age groups. 13th August * James Berry and Mark Christian will be competing in next week's British national youth and junior track championships at the Newport velodrome in Wales. Last year James picked up a bronze medal in the under 12's omnium, with Mark finishing 11th overall in the under 14's. At the end of the week James will travel down to London for the penultimate round of the British youth series at Lee Valley. * The club is sending a large team to the Midland Area Youth Tour on 27th - 29th August. The event, which is the final round of British Cycling's national youth series, is being staged at various venues in the Wolverhampton area. The riders are Tom Black, Mark Christian, Caroline O'Neill, Colum O'Shea, Mark Redhead, James Berry, Sam Black, Adam Johnson, Matheu Marshall, Christopher Nicholson, twin brothers John and Warwick Sanderson, Alexandra Christian, Joshua Cowie, Sarah Quine, Alexander Haddock, Andrew Marshall, Thomas Mazzone, Jack Wolstencroft, Lucy Johnson, Anna Christian, Matthew Davies, Joshua Knights, Leon Mazzone and Eleanor Stokoe. * Rounding off a busy couple of months, James Berry, Tom Black, Mark Christian, Jonathan Cregeen, Matthew Looker, Caroline O'Nell and Rebecca Whipp are representing the club at the British national final of the prestigious GHS 10 mile time trial championship at Bottisham near Cambridge on Saturday, 10th September. The riders qualified for the final at the Liverpool District heat of the competition in July. Over 120 of Britain's top juvenile cyclists will be contesting the event. 9th August Mark Christian stamped his authority on the under 14's / under 16's racing bikes. Attacking with six laps to go, he left the rest of the field to fight over the minor placings. Matthew Looker, who was having his first outing since returning from a successful school rugby trip to South Africa, and Mark Redhead put in a determined chase but were unable to make any inroads into the lead, finishing second and third respectively. Tom Black was fourth and James Berry the best under 14 in fifth position. In the abcense of Caroline O'Neill, who was marshalling, Alicia Corlett was the top girl in twelfth spot. 5th August * There were some excellent performances by team members in last weekend's Kerry Youth Tour, staged over three days at Killorglin on the west coast of Ireland. Twelve year old James Berry won the under 13's class and finished an excellent third overall in the combined under 14 / under 13 category, just 6 seconds behind winner Adrien Guerreo (VC Ardennes) of Belgium. James was at the head of the race throughout, recording top 12 positions in all three road stages and producing one of the rides of the event to win the time trial outright in a top class field of over 50 competitors. 27th July * Conditions were perfect at the NSC last Tuesday night for the 223 competitors who contested round 15 of the club's Scottish Provident league. The under 14's / under 16's racing bikes was cut short near the end due to a crash involving Caroline O'Neill and Thomas Mazzone Both were taken to hospital for a check up but fortunately there were no serious injuries. The result of the race was decided on count back, with Mark Christian Tom Black and James Berry credited with the top three placings. 26th July * James Berry, Tom Black, Mark Christian, Alicia Corlett, Jonathan Cregeen, Adam Johnson, Matheu Marshall, Caroline O'Neill and Mark Redhead will be competing for the club in next weekend's Kerry Youth Tour on the west coast of Ireland. Since the demise of the Manchester International 3-Day the Kerry event has become the number one priority for many of the top juvenile cyclists in Britain and beyond. Indeed, this year's entry list includes teams from Belgium, Holland and South Africa, as well as two national Irish squads. In 2004 James Berry scored a superb overall victory in Category 3 for under 12's and Sam Looker won the green jersey for being the best 13 year old in Category 2 for under 14's. 21st July * There was another large entry of 239 competitors for round 14 of the Scottish Provident league, held in sunny but very windy conditions at a packed NSC last Tuesday night. Lapping the half mile track in a consistent 1.25 minutes, the very talented Mark Christian made an early attack in the under 14 / under 16 racing bikes and stayed away for another clear victory. Mark Redhead ousted Niall Shimmin, James Berry and Colum O'Shea in the fight for second and Caroline O'Neill was the leading girl in eighth place. 15th July * Club members were on good form again in last Wednesday's (13th July) round of the Manx Telecom 10 mile time trial league, staged in near perfect conditions on the Andreas course. Twelve year old James Berry produced the ride of the night to set a new Manx national under 13's record in a brilliant 25.09, good enough for sixteenth overall one place and two seconds ahead of Niall Shimmin. 14th July * Making the most of the good weather that the Island has been enjoying recently, a total of 218 competitors turned out at the NSC last Tuesday night for round 13 of the Scottish Provident League. Seven riders broke away early on in the under 14 / under 16 racing bikes event and stayed clear to the finish where Mark Christian took the sprint from Mark Redhead, Matthew Looker, Tom Black, James Berry (1st under 14), Niall Shimmin and Colum O'Shea. The hard working Adam Johnson was the best of the rest in eighth spot and Caroline O'Neill was the top girl in eleventh place. 3rd July * A total of seven team members have qualified for the national final of the prestigious GHS time trial championship. Tom Black, Mark Christian, Matthew Looker, James Berry, Jonathan Cregeen, Caroline O'Neill and Rebecca Whipp all booked their places with some outstanding performances at the Liverpool District heat of the competition, staged over two and a bit laps (a total of eight miles) of a flatish circuit at Bickerstaffe last Saturday. Age category winners James Berry, who was the quickest under 13 year old in a sparkling 20.15, and Jonathan Cregeen, the fastest under 12 in 23.25, both join their team mates in the final, while Caroline O'Neill (23.23) and Rebecca Whipp (24.01) go through as the two fastest girls. 29th June * Good luck to team members Adam Johnson, Matheu Marshall, Caroline O'Neill, Matthew Berry, Colum O'Shea, Oliver Honeybone, Mark Christian, Mark Redhead, Jonathan Cregeen, Matthew Looker, Christopher Nicholson, Rebecca Whipp, Tom Black and James Berry who will all be competing in this coming Saturday's Liverpool District GHS Time Trial Championship at Bickerstaffe. The qualifiers from the various age groups will go forward to the national final in September. The event is the premier time trial competition for juveniles in Britain and previous winners include world cycling stars Chris Boardman and Nicole Cooke. In 2003 Cayley Ennett won the girls' title and Aaron Whipp, Ashley Whipp and Elliott Moore won the team award for the club. * Club members have been posting some fantastic times in the weekly Manx Telecom 10 mile time trial league. In last Wednesday's round Tom Black covered the distance in an excellent 24minutes and 03 seconds. Mark Christian got round in an equally impressive 24.42, with Matthew Looker just 18 seconds slower in 25 minutes dead. Twelve year old James Berry produced one of the rides of the night to clock an amazing 25.30, which was a slender 16 seconds short of the Isle of Man under 13's record. The much improved Colum O'Shea and Mark Redhead both completed the course in a very good 25.39 and Niall Shimmin was timed at 26.29. Adam Johnson broke 30 minutes for the first time this year, his 29.13 pipping Christopher Nicholson's 29.21 by a narrow eight seconds, while Jonathan Cregeen and Caroline O'Neill just missed the magic 20mph mark in 30.07 and 30.11 respectively. Rebecca Whipp was next best in 30.23 followed by Matthew Berry in 30,47 and Oliver Honeybone in 31.39. 29th June * A total of 237 competitors enjoyed near perfect conditions for round eleven of the Scottish Provident children's cycling league, staged at a sultry NSC last night. In the under 14 / under 16 racing bikes Mark Christian was out on his own for ten of the twenty five laps. He was eventually reeled in by a chasing group spearheaded by Tom Black. The final outcome was decided in a bunch sprint where Christian got the verdict over Matthew Looker, Mark Redhead, Tom Black, James Berry (1st under 14) and Colum O'Shea. The top girl was Caroline O'Neill in seventh spot. 22nd June Round ten of the club's Scottish Provident league attracted another excellent entry of 259 competitors. The under 14 / under 16 racing bikes was also full of action. Mark Christian made an early attack and stayed away for several laps. He was eventually reeled in by the bunch but still had enough left to take the final gallop from Matthew Looker. The hard working Tom Black was third and James Berry was the first under 14 in fourth position. Colum O'Shea put in a good performance to finish fifth ahead of Niall Shimmin and Mark Redhead. The first girl was Caroline O'Neill in twelfth place. 8th June * Conditions were the best they have been all summer for round eight of the Scottish Provident children's cycling league, staged at the NSC last Tuesday night. Warming up for the forthcoming British national circuit race championships, an aggressive Mark Christian scored a fine solo win in the under 14 / under 16 racing bikes. Tom Black grabbed second place from Mark Redhead and James Berry was the best of the under 14's in fourth spot. Colum O'Shea was a good fifth and Caroline O'Neill sixth. 26th May Conditions were surprisingly good for the 278 youngsters who competed in round seven of the Scottish Provident cycling league at the NSC last Tuesday night. Fresh from some excellent performances in the Bikestyle handicap series and the recent road race championships, Mark Christian got the better of Matthew Looker in the fast and furious sprint finish to the under 14 / under 16 racing bikes. Mark Redhead was third and fourth placed James Berry edged out Sam Looker for the under 14's prize. Caroline O'Neill was the first girl in ninth spot. 18th May A total of 299 youngsters competed in round six of the club' Scottish Provident league, held in sunny but cold conditions at the NSC last Tuesday night. The under 14 / under 16 racing bikes ended in a sprint finish contested by a breakaway group of seven riders. Mark Christian was first over the line closely followed by Matthew Looker, Mark Redhead, Sam Looker (the first U/14), James Berry. Tom Black and Colum O'Shea. Leading girl Caroline O'Neill led the rest of the field home in eighth place. 11th May There was another massive turn out of 314 competitors for round five of the Scottish Provident League, held in perfect conditions at a sunny NSC last Tuesday night. In the under 14 / under 16 racing bikes Mark Christian, Matthew Looker and Mark Redhead escaped early on in the race. A group of six riders gave chase but were unable to bridge the gap. At the flag Christian took the sprint from Looker and Redhead, with Tom Black getting the verdict for fourth ahead of the two top under 14's - James Berry and Sam Looker. 4th May * A cold wind and the imminent threat of rain failed to deter the 301 competitors who turned up at the NSC last Tuesday night for round four of the Scottish Provident league. In the under 14 / under 16 racing bikes a very aggressive Mark Christian broke away from a leading group of four riders for a fine solo win. Matthew Looker and Mark Redhead, who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, tried to chase him down but were unable to bridge the gap. James Berry was the first under 14 rider home in 4th spot and the fast improving Colum O'Shea was 5th, one place ahead of Caroline O'Neill. 2nd May * Eight team members contested last Saturday's North West Division Track Championships at the Manchester velodrome. Matthew Berry, Caroline O'Neill and Thomas Mazzone also rode well, but just failed to reach the final play offs. Unluckiest rider of the day was James Berry who was taken out by another competitor when leading the under 14's devil and was unable to continue. 1st May * Team members James & Matthew Berry, Mark Christian, Laura Gage, Matthew & Sam Looker, Thomas Mazzone and Caroline O'Neill competed in British Cycling's North West Division Track Championships, staged at the Manchester velodrome last Saturday. Most of the riders were using the track bikes that the club recently purchased with assistance from the Public Lottery and the Gough Ritchie Charitable Trusts. More details to follow. * Eight TSP riders competed in last weekend's Cardiff Youth Tour in Wales. The two-day five stage race was the third round of British Cycling's national series. In the overall standings Joshua Knights finished an excellent 4th (3rd boy) in the under 10's and Thomas Mazzone was very good 5th (4th boy) in the under 12's, despite being brought down in a last lap crash on the final stage. Alexander Haddock, who was making his off-island racing debut, was a very promising 13th in the same class, with fellow off-island debutant Adam Johnson a creditable 20th in the under 14's category. Tom Black and Mark Redhead finished 24th and 26th respectively in the under 16's age group and Caroline O'Neill was 13th in the under 16's girls. An under the weather James Berry retired after the second stage of the under 14's event. 27th April Despite the changeable weather conditions, there was another very large turn out of 282 competitors at the NSC last Tuesday night for round three of the Scottish Provident children's cycling league. After Mark Christian and Matthew Looker had both made spirited attempts to get away, the very exciting twenty lap under 14's/under 16's racing bikes event ended in a bunch gallop for the line, with Christian getting the verdict from Looker and James Berry (the best U/14). Mark Redhead was fourth, Sam Looker fifth and Colum O'Shea a good sixth. Caroline O'Neill was the top girl in eigth spot. 21st April * James Berry, Tom Black, Alexander Haddock, Adam Johnson, Joshua Knights, Thomas Mazzone, Caroline O'Neill and Mark Redhead will be representing the club at this weekend's Cardiff Youth Tour in Wales. The two-day event is the third round of British Cycling's national circuit race series. 20th April There was another fantastic all-time record turn out of 332 competitors for round two of the Scottish Provident children's cycling league, staged at the NSC last Tuesday night in sunny but breezy conditions. The final event of the night was the under 14's/under 16's racing bikes. Mark Christian, Sam Looker, Matthew Looker, Tom Black, James Berry and Mark Redhead formed the winning break, with Oliver Shimmin, Matheu Marshall and Caroline O.Neill in hot pursuit. Colum O'Shea temporarily joined the chasing group before making a valiant solo effort to get across to the leaders . At the finish it was Mark Christian who crossed the line first followed by Matthew Looker, Black, Redhead, Berry (the leading u/14) and Sam Looker. The hard working O'Shea was seventh and Caroline O'Neill the top girl in eighth place. 13th April * There was a fantastic all-time record turn out of 291 competitors at the NSC last Tuesday night for the opening round of the 2005 Scottish Provident youth cycling league. The final race on the action packed programme was the under 14's/under 16's racing bikes. The outcome was decided in a very close sprint between Matthew Looker and Mark Christian, with Matthew just getting the verdict by a tyre's width. Mark Redhead did well to grab third from Tom Black, Sam Looker - the best of the under 14's - and Niall Shimmin. The highest placed girl was Caroline O'neill in seventh position. Unluckiest rider of the night was James Berry, who was forced to retire with mechanical problems when looking good for a top six placing. 11th April *Seven team members competed with great success in the second round of British Cycling's national youth series, staged at Hetton Lyons Country Park in Sunderland last Sunday. Twelve year old James Berry produced the performance of the day to grab third place in the very competitive under 14's class. Despite being one of the youngest riders in the group, James took the race to his older rivals, chasing down a dangerous looking break that went from the gun and then launching an attack of his own. He led the race on the final climb but just lost out in the final sprint for the chequered flag. * Team members James Berry, Mark Christian, Matthew & Sam Looker, Thomas & Leon Mazzone and Joshua Knights are all competing in next Sunday's Hetton Hawks circuit races in Sunderland. The event is the second round of British Cycling's national youth series. On Saturday, Caroline O'neill will be track racing at the Manchester velodrome as a guest of the Eastlands Velo club. 4th April Following some excellent team work in the last stage at the NSC, Sam Looker and James Berry secured 2nd and 3rd places overall in Category B for under 14's. Sam and James were very impressive on the hills, with 12 year old James just losing out to overall winner Chris Whorrall (MRC) on stage 1's climb up Tholt-y-Will. Oliver Shimmin and Sam Black were 6th and 10th respectively in the same class. 21st March
* Ten club members took part in the Manx
Viking Wheelers' 2-up 25 mile time trial at Ballaugh last Sunday. Matthew Looker
partnered Gary Hinds (MVW) to 7th place in an excellent 1hr 05 mins dead. The
TSP under 16 duo of Tom Black and Mark Christian covered the distance in a very
good 1.06.08 for 11th spot, while young James Berry accompanied Gavin Quayle (MVW)
to 17th position in 1.10.22. Sam Looker and his father Jeff (MVW) were 20th in
1.13.28, one place and 19 seconds ahead of newcomer Alex Kinvig and veteran Tony
Aspell (EV). The all girl pairing of Caroline O'Neill and Laura Gage posted
1.20.08 for 22nd place and Matthew Berry teamed up with Colum O'Shea to finish
25th in 1.25.19. * Six team members competed in last Sunday's sporting 11 mile time trial based at Kewaigue. Mark Christian covered the distance in a rapid 30mins 30secs for an excellent 13th place overall in a field of over forty riders. Matthew Looker clocked a very good 32.07 for 21st overall, with Port Erin's Mark Redhead just one place behind in 32.25. Tom Black was 25th overall in a creditable time of 32.54 and twelve year old James Berry, who was the youngest rider in the race, got round in an impressive 34.18 (27th overall). Sam Looker did well to post 35.30 (29th overall) after losing valuable time with a puncture. 23rd February * Encouraged by their impressive debuts in the previous week's event, Mark Christian and James Berry made a return visit to the Manchester velodrome last Monday night to compete in the ACT Track League. The Isle of Man duo were so outstanding in their initial appearance in the league (they completely dominated the youth events) that the organisers decided to move them up to the senior classes for the latest round. Mark and James were more than able to hold their own against their much older and more experienced rivals, notching up one win and five top six placings between them. The first event that the Manx youngsters contested was a 12 lap scratch race. Mark finished an excellent second - a result that earned him promotion into a higher class - and James was a fine sixth. In the following "devil takes the hindmost" Mark initially made a good start but fell into the danger zone at the back of the field and was eventually eliminated. James fared better in his outing, staying with the pace for sixth place. In the penultimate event - a 12 lap "course des primes" - Mark bounced back in fine style to take the runners-up spot in his group, while James posted his best result of the meeting to finish fourth. The Team Scottish Provident riders saved their best performances for the final two races of the night. In an exciting climax to the evening's programme Mark scored a memorable victory in the final points race. James was also on course for a group win, but was forced to pull out with a bad bout of cramp after leading for 17 of the 20 laps. After the racing was over British Cycling's Talent Team coaches invited Mark and James to attend the Wednesday training sessions at the velodrome 16th February * Mark Christian and James Berry scored a string of impressive results in the latest round of the ACT (Association of Cycle Traders) Track League, staged at the Manchester velodrome last Monday night. Indeed, the two Manx youngsters, who were making their debuts in the league, completely dominated the evening's combined youth events and between them won all the races they contested. In the opening 8 lap handicap Mark and James came through from the scratch group to finish an excellent first and third respectively. Mark notched up his second victory in the following 10 lap paced handicap, while James grabbed second place to make it a Team Scottish Provident one two. In the Keirin event, which was divided into four races, Mark and James both came out on top in their heats, with Mark posting the fastest time of the night, just a fraction of a second ahead of James. Rounding off a very successful evening, Mark won and James was the runner-up (subject to official confirmation) in the nine lap points handicap. 12th February * Team members James Berry and Mark Christian are competing in this coming Monday night's ACT Track League at the Manchester velodrome. |