Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK has congratulated competitors who achieved an Island cycling first by winning medals in the Commonwealth Youth Games.
Thomas ‘Jimmy’ Bostock won gold in the boys’ road race while Tara Ferguson achieved silver in the girls’ road race.
The medals are the first the Island has won at cycling in the 17-year history of the Games and Jimmy’s is the Island’s first ever gold at the Games.
Tara and Jimmy, both 17, were part of an eight-member team from the Island that competed in the Bahamas in July.
Last night, the Chief Minister – accompanied by Sports Minister Graham Cregeen MHK – attended the Team RL360 Isle of Man Cycling Race League at the National Sports Centre to personally congratulate the medal-winners, present them with certificates marking their achievements and hear first-hand about their experiences.
Tara and Jimmy started out in the Tuesday night league, run by Dot Tilbury MBE.
In line with Government’s investment in sport, Tara receives Isle of Man Sport Aid funding while Jimmy is a former member of the Sport Aid Academy for up and coming athletes.
The Chief Minister said:
‘I wanted to pass on my congratulations, and those of everyone in the Isle of Man, to Tara and Jimmy for winning medals against the best young cyclist worldwide in their age group.
‘The structure of support for young cyclists in the Isle of Man, together with the hard work and dedication of individuals, has bred Olympic gold medallists, world, European and British champions and a multiple Tour de France stage winner.
‘The Island has a global reputation in the sport and Tara and Jimmy are now joining the ranks of cyclists of whom the Island can be really proud.’
The Chief Minister also praised the other six members of the team: Will Draper, David Mullarkey, Emma Hodgson, Kazia Whittaker, Euan Macmurchie and Joel Watterson for representing the Island so admirably.
