Thornton Chartered Financial Planners are delighted to support junior cyclists Jess Pickavance and Sophie Smith.
Jess is excited to see where cycling will take her next few years.
I’m 14 and a first-year U16 riding for RL360 Isle of Man. I enjoy training hard and racing the national series. I have had multiple top 5 and podiums in the past 12 months, and I’m hoping to go further in the future.
In the next few years, I’d like to join a team and get the opportunity to race internationally at the highest level. I am confident that in the next few years, I will be able to achieve the results that will get me there.
Here is an October 2022 update from Jess:
I have just finished my 2022 season and starting to build again into 2023. Currently and over the winter I’m mixing up my training with different disciplines of road, MTB and track. I’m also adding in gym work and running to my training to make sure I’m the best I can be in 2023 to try achieve some big goals!
Sophie is 15 and is riding as a U16 girl for Team RL360 Isle of Man. This is her last year competing in youth cycling, and she wishes to continue at the junior level, then hopefully compete at an even higher level.
This year I have completed in the British Cycling National Youth Series. I have had many good results recently, including top 5s, and I hope to improve to get even better than this in the future. My main aim for this year is to obtain more stage podiums and improve in local races.
So far this year, Sophie’s greatest achievements have been a 5th in the Youth Tour of Scotland, 4th in a stage at the Pembery national round, 3rd in a stage at the Spokes national round and a 1st at the Dolan series.
Here is an October 2022 update from Sophie:
I have recently just finished my last season as a youth cyclist for RL360 isle of man. I am now going into junior racing and looking forward to the challenges this brings. Longer races and tougher courses so i will be focusing on building up to this over the winter months. My winter training will include several disciplines including road riding, MTB and running, I am also starting to go to the gym to help with my strength. This year has been very busy and quite successful for me, I recently won the Ulster 3 day international, also taking the points jersey and team prize. Later that month I also competed in the North West Youth Tour which I came top ten in two of the races. I am really looking forward to the coming year of riding as a junior and will try my best to improve on last year’s performances.
