Cycling Australia

The first round of the 2012/13 National Junior Track Series (NJTS) got off to a burning start at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome on the weekend with 150 junior cyclists taking part.

Thirty-one teams and combines from across the country verged on the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games track for the two days of competition, with plenty of encouraging signs at all levels.

In the under 15 women category, New South Wales' Jessica Saunders (Northern Inland Combine) holds the series leader's jersey and yellow cap after a stellar performance, while Victoria's Riley Hart (Brunswick Orange) has a slender lead over fellow Victorian Isacc Buckell (Regional Victoria) in the under 15 men's standings.

New South Wales cyclist Bridget Mullany (Illawarra Academy) and South Australia's Danielle McKinnirey (Stuart Holdfast Marion CC) staged a furious battle in the under 17 women's events, with Mullany winning the last event to snatch the leader's jersey.

The under 17 men event's were dominated by Western Australian Matthew Jackson (HCS Perth) who is now the clear leader in the category. In second behind Jackson is Cameron Scott (Illawarra's Academy) of New South Wales who, having moved up an age group this season, will look to move up the standings as the as the series progresses.

Other solid and encouraging performances over the two days came from Queensland's Brianna Hunt (Central Coast CC), Braden O'Shea (Central Mix), Victorian duo Liam Pino (Brunswick Orange) and Jordyn Hassett (Blackburn Blackbirds), in addition to Tasmania's James Robinson (Launceston City CC).  

In the teams classification, the New South Wales based Illawarra Academy now holds lead over Brunswick Orange and Northern Inland.

The aim of the NJTS is to provide a quality track cycling competition for junior riders through a club based participation series where riders can hone their skills through racing and development opportunities.  It is hoped that it will ensure the long-term future of track cycling within Australia by providing a strong series from which talented riders will transition through to Cycling Australia's high performance programs in the future.

The NJTS will feature five events held in Sydney, Perth, Launceston, Adelaide and Melbourne and is presented by the Santos Tour Down Under, is supported by Cycling Australia and Jayco.

The second round will be held in Perth November 3-4.