Young Ballarat cyclist wins bronze at national titles

BEING a teenager has not slowed Ballarat cyclist Emma Bilston.The 13-year-old was one of about eight riders from the Ballarat region to contest the Australian National Cycling Championships in Stromlo near Canberra at the weekend.In what proved a very successful meeting for several of those riders — The Courier Sportz Biz Junior Sports Star of the week for March 21, Thomas Hamilton of Ararat, won the under-17 men's time trial and criterium, and finished second in the under-17 men's 68km road race. Bilston also proved herself quite an allrounder.The Loreto College year seven student finished fourth in the under-15 8km time trial on Friday morning and then was just pipped for a medal in the 25km road race, coming home fourth.It all came together though on Sunday, Bilston winning a bronze medal in the 20-minute criterium as one of the younger competitors in the under-15 event.Bilston said her ultimate goal was to represent Australia internationally. Earlier this year she represented Victoria at the track nationals. Of the region's other riders, Victoria Snibson and Emily Wardie-Thompson finished 24th and 25th respectively in the under-17 44km road race, while Angus Lyons had a courageous fourth in the under-15 time trial, just ahead of Ararat rider Lucas Hamilton, and was 12th in the criterium.Liam White finished second in the under-17 criterium consolation race and 23rd in the time trial.Another Ararat rider, Zoe Nicholson, finished 17th in the time trial, 12th in the road race and 11th in the criterium.