Inverness mountain biker Kenta Gallagher is just over a week away from a stab at the British cross country championships, the one title which seems to have eluded him over the past 12 months.

A year ago he was second in the race, but this year he has shown outstanding form with two first places in the British Cross and three firsts in Scottish Cross Country circuits, putting him in the lead of both series. Competing in his first overseas trip, the Benelux Cup in Holland, he finished an impressive fifth place.
 
“It was against Belgium, the Netherlands and a couple of other countries,” said Kenta. “I was really pleased about it and I feel I could have done better if I had a better gridding. It was my first race so I was put at the back which meant I had to get through everybody else before I could catch up with the leaders.

“Still, I’ve had two firsts and a second so far in the British series so it’s been pretty good.”

It’s a typical understatement from the 16 year old who only began cross country cycling four years ago when his father, a runner at the time, injured his knee and was advised to take up cycling instead. 

“He enjoyed it and bought me a bike,” recalls Kenta.   “I did my first race, the Scottish Cross Country Series Primary Schools race, and got fourth.  I enjoyed it so much that I’ve been riding and racing ever since.”

Since then his progress through the sport has been rapid.  Particularly skilled on the technical side of racing in the 16km cross country event, Kenta won the 2005/2006 Scottish series juvenile category and was a silver medallist at the Scottish SXC Championships in 2006.

That autumn he was selected for Scottish Cycling’s “Talent Team” Performance Programme, which aims to assist Scottish athletes achieve medal success in Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games Competition. 

At the same time he was inducted into the Highland Institute of Sport, whose teams work together to deliver essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.

“I’ve been using the Highland Institute car a lot which has been really helpful and I do fitness testing with them down at Heriot Watt University,” said Kenta, who is sponsored by 777 MTB Racing and Kenny’s Audi VW specialists.  “At the end of this year I want to move up to the Olympic Development programme.  Long term I’d like to get paid to ride my bike.”

With these ambitions he realises the need to adopt a more structured training programme. 

“Up until now I just get out and ride my bike for fun and I haven’t been training as much as I could be,” he said.  “It’s early days yet but I’ll probably start taking it seriously this winter.”

In the meantime he has his major goal of the season to achieve.

“The British championship is my most important race of the year.  I got second last year so the pressure’s on because I really want the title.  I’ve always wanted it but have never been able to get it so far.  But I know everyone in the race, what they’re good at and it’s just a case of doing my best.”