Clodagh saddles up for Olympic masterclass with gold medalists

It’s a Disney dream come true for young cycling fanatic Clodagh Hayes from Cork — a training session with Olympic gold medal cyclists Laura Trott and Jason Kennedy.

Clodagh, 11, from Glanmire, Co Cork, was one of 37,000 young people from Britain and Ireland who wrote, in less than 50 words, about her cycling passion, to win a very special masterclass with the Olympian couple next Tuesday at the London Velopark.

The competition is part of Disney’s Aim High programme, a mentorship that inspires boys and girls aged 7 to 14 to reach for the stars, and Clodagh, who has been cycling since the age of 4, was one of four winners of the masterclass.

Now in its third year, Aim High has been connecting children with famous people from the world of sport, music and film.

Mentors have included footballers Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey, rapper Tinchy Stryder and England cricketer Stuart Broad.

Clodagh’s dad, Ray, is a keen cyclist and the two enjoy training together. Clodagh is also a competitive swimmer and plays camogie and football.

“Clodagh is up at least three mornings a week before school at 6.30am for a cycle with either me or her mum, Ann,” said Ray. “She will go on a three to four hour spin with me at the weekend, usually on the back roads of Glanmire. She loves to find and conquer new hills!”

Clodagh, who is in 5th class in Scoil Náisiúnta an Chroí Noafa, Glounthaune, is the youngest of two girls in the Hayes’ family.

“Clodagh has an incredible passion for sport. She would like to join a cycling club but I have dissuaded her from doing that for now to allow her body to develop,” said Ray.

Clodagh said she was delighted to be taking part in the masterclass.

“Laura is someone I look up to. She was sick as a baby but got into cycling and became a champion,” she said.

Trott and Kennedy went public about their relationship during the London Games, and live in Manchester with their two dogs.