On the road to cycling success

In their short sports careers two young Breffni Wheelers cyclists have national championships under their belts, represented their province and are now eyeing up the prospects of representing their country.

The outstanding prospects Aisha Gannon and Ava Baker have excelled across the three varied disciplines of cycling: road racing, cross country mountain biking and cyclo cross.

The first two disciplines will be familiar to most; cyclo cross is where competitors can hoist their bikes up onto their shoulders and lug them up otherwise impassable, steep inclines.

The Breffni Wheelers pair are doing their best to put Cavan on the map in a sport dominated by major clubs, most notably VC Glendale of Belfast, but also Orwell Wheelers of Dublin, Dungarvan in Waterford, and Sliabh Lucahra, Kerry.

Having joined Breffni Wheelers’ ranks at U12 level, Aisha already has four years’ experience competing against Ireland’s best in her age group. And she’s more than comfortable amongst that calibre of riders.

Aisha is the current National TT U15 Champion, which she won in June.

This is a gruelling time trial where competitors simply go flat out for the entire 7.5Km of the course.

The success follows on winning the U14 Cycle Cross National Championships in Armagh.

Aisha put in a remarkable performance to not only make up a minute on her rival leading the race with just a lap to go, but actually had a minute to spare when she crossed the finishing line.

“There was a muddy section, and I caught her there, and by the time the finish line rolled around I was a minute ahead of her. It was a very muddy course so it was quite challenging, both mentally and physically.”

The Celt notes that racing down sheer, steep banks in the mud, must be terrifying

“Not really,” says the Killeshandra teen nonchalantly. “You get used to it after a while”.

While Aisha is yet to have significant crash in Cyclo Cross, she has in road racing.

“A few scratches on the bike, but otherwise I was fine,” she says of the outcome.

Her Breffni Wheeler pal Ava Baker meanwhile has obviously been in the wars as her fingers are bandaged when we meet. Her father Enda shows the Celt a series of photos capturing the moment young Ava is injured coming down a sheer bank competing in Navan CX.

“I had a bit of a speed wobble going down it, and came across the handlebars, I don’t even know how I broke my finger, but then I also had to put my chain back on after it - I didn’t even notice it was broken. My knee was sorer. I continued on and finished third,” she says with a hint of satisfaction.

The broken finger didn’t stop her claiming a place on the podium a week late at Castlesaunderson in the Cavan CX - a race hosted by Breffni Wheelers.

Ava is also excelling in road racing, having won the nationals in Co Derry.

“We were all together at the end of the race, and there was a sprint to the finish to see who was the fastest, and I won that,” she says with a hint of disbelief. “It was only my fourth road race, so I didn’t think I was going to win.”

The same day the 12- year-old followed up that success with a third place in the TT.

Ava also won the Ulster League and the National League in Cyclo Cross. Upon the completion of the leagues, a one day final is staged for the silverware.

“I thought I might have a good chances of winning that but my chain came off a few times, so I finished fourth,” recalls Ava of the ups and downs of racing.

The Butlersbridge National School pupil has also performed amazingly in Cross Country Mountain Biking. In the summer she won the national league, but finished third national finals.

“It wasn’t my best day, but it was pretty good,” is Ava’s honest assessment.

The Butlersbridge cyclist has just moved up into Under 14s, and after five Cyclo Cross races sat in second place in both the Ulster and National League. The rider in first place is 14 years old.

“This year in the nationals it’s unlikely that I could win, but next year I think I’ve better chances,” she surmises.

She has to cram cycling in amongst her many other pursuits - swimming, football, athletics tennis, golf. That requires a lot of dedication from both Ava and her parents as she typically travels to practice at Brian McCrystals in Dundalk - a purpose-built cyclecross training facilities, something Cavan is sorely lacking. Then at the weekend they have to travel the length and breadth of Ireland to compete.

Having both represented their province on numerous occasions, both girls have now set their sights set on representing their country. However national grade competition only begins at Under 16, Ava will have a few more years to wait, but Aisha could be on the brink of that accolade.

Her excitement at the prospect is informed by her experience riding in an Ulster jersey at the Tour of Scotland.

“That was definitely a good experience,” she recalls. “It was proper road cycling with the big peloton, and the races were long with five stages over three days. It was challenging,” she says, noting one of the stages was 50k.”

Aisha confirms she’s “100%” aiming to cycle at elite level.

While the pair enjoy the competitive element of racing, they also relish the social side of the occasion too.

“You make so many new friends whenever you are at the races,” says Aisha.

“Whenever you are racing against them, they are your competitors, but after the race when you’re talking together it’s a bit of a laugh - makes it more enjoyable.”