When Inverness mountain biker, Kenta Gallagher, moved up an age group this season to under 18 level, his aim of winning the British junior title and competing in the European and World Championships seemed ambitious.

He won national under 18s title a month ago but it’s almost a best kept secret outside of racing circles.  In a rare family double his younger sister, 14 year old Yuka, won the British Juveniles title at the same competition.

“The national title was my main aim for the season and I was surprised to win it and I’ve really only just got over it,” said Kenta, a 17 year old who never blows his own trumpet.  “But I haven’t really told anyone about it.”

Kenta won the British title by 40 seconds over his season long rival, England’s Steven James at a soggy Innerleithen in the Borders. 

“It was a really technical course which suited me a lot and I was praying for rain all week so the track would get a bit muddy,” said Kenta.

“Because I came a from a downhill background you ride stuff really fast and get used to being a bit out of control.  Whereas my opponents aren’t comfortable on mud.  When the rain came I knew I had an advantage and it was going to be my weekend. 

James had forged gaps on all the uphill sections but Gallagher pulled them all back on the way down hill. 

“On the last lap I knew the championship was at stake so I stuck to his back wheel and going over the top of the last hill I put in a maximum effort to get on the downhill first. 

“Once on the downhill I knew I had won it and managed to relax and get down without crashing.  It was 40 seconds difference, which was quite tight for a national.”

On British Cycling’s Olympic Development Programme (ODP) since October, under Nottingham based coach Phil Dixon, Kenta reveals his training style has switched from relaxed to regimented: “Last year I would ride how I felt but this year all my training is properly structured.”    

He has also been supported by the Scottish Institute of Sport this season, and receives help from the Highland Institute of Sport.  

“The Highland Institute have been a great help by lending me the pool car,” he said.  “That meant my dad could drive me down to the nationals.” 

The combination of ODP and localised Institute support has helped Kenta enjoy his best season yet.   

Last month at the Junior European Championships in the Netherlands, Gallagher had been looking at a top 10 finish when a snapped chain at the half way mark cost him five minutes and plunged him to the back of the field.  He eventually hauled himself back up to finish in 26th place.

British selectors were sufficiently impressed to offer Kenta a place in their team heading for next week’s Junior World Championships in Canberra, Australia.

“I head out to Australia on Tuesday and this will be my biggest race to date,” he said.  “You had to prove yourself over the year to British Cycling that you were capable of being able to race internationally and the European Championships and the British Championships were the two biggest races of the season and I performed at my best.” 

"I had hoped for a top 15 in the European Champs, so anything in the top 20 at the worlds I’ll be pretty pleased with in my first year as a junior.”

With any luck it will be raining in Canberra.