Masters student and SU Sport Bursar Ben Nott attened the British Cycling Annual Awards Dinner at the weekend. Ben was invited to recieve an award to recognise his achievemnent in winning the 2016 Sport Male Cross Country Mountin Bike National Series. The series consisted of five races in which Ben came 1st place in all but two where he came a close 2nd. His race wins included a defient victory in the fourth round at Fforest Fields where Ben crossed the line 6min 48 seconds before second place! Ben's National Series success and other wins in the season meant that he finished the season ranked #1 rider in the Sport Male category overall.
Ben is now preparing for the 2017 MTB Cross Country season where he will race in Expert. But it has not been a quiet winter for Ben:
" I have been training hard during the winter but I kept my training interesting by competitng in the Welsh Cyclocross League where I finished 4th overall. This was a great experience as I got to race against Elite riders and really push myself, as well as trying a completely new disciplin. So I guess I haven't had much of an off season! Now I am focused on the MTB XC National Series where I hope to podium in Expert. "
Ben has had a colourful cycling history in his time at Cardiff Met as a reoccuring shoulder injury put an end to his successful Downhill career, which included individual Bronze and team Gold at BUCS Downhill in 2013 and a host of national podiums in Expert.
With this in mind we have no doubt that Ben will succeed in his new Cross Country cycling career and SU Sport wish him the best of luck for the season ahead!