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My Revolution.
Revolution 18 Programme article
26.11.07
Myfirst experience of Revolution was daunting to say the least. I had an invite off the local Talent Team coach to ride in the junior races. I remember running across the room to tell my Parents that I had been selected to ride for the West Midlands team. Reality soon dawned on me: I had never raced on an indoor track before.
My mouth was dry from about 1pm in the afternoon as I started getting myself prepared for the ordeal that awaited. I was nervous to say the least. Not only was it the first time I had ridden on the track, it was also the first Revolution. I remember the roar of the crowd as the elite riders were introduced, which just got louder with each rider. The racing started and I couldn’t get over the speed the Pro’s were going round the track at. It certainly looked a lot faster than the local track league that I was used to. It wasn’t long before my turn came. I got a kicking to say the least; not because I wasn’t physically good enough but I had no confidence.
I was invited to ride again in the next Revolution. I had more confidence but this was soon knocked back as I crashed in the first race: the scratch. My mum didn’t have any trouble getting past the security that time as I am sure I heard her scream my son has fallen off I am coming through. If I was on the gate I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to argue with my Mum. I however got straight back on for the devil. Which well I either seem to get into the last few or I am first out. Nothing has changed!! I did well and my enthusiasm for the sport was high.
The next year I was invited to ride the ‘Future Star’ Series. I was stronger physically and my confidence had also grown. Nothing had changed though I still had the same feeling which made revising in the car for my A-levels impossible. I knew the atmosphere was electric the year before but nothing prepared me for the cheers that Brad Wiggins and Chris Hoy received from the crowd as they pedalled round in their nice white skin suits, which duly adorned the Olympic rings. It didn’t start great. I was second out in the Devil. Oh whoops! However I improved through the night although I didn’t have much of a clue what I was doing. My enthusiasm hadn’t died and with a 4th in the last race I just wanted to win a race. I was told I needed to race more track. With my newly found love for the sport that’s just what I did. I forced my Mum to start taking me down to Newport Track league every Friday. She didn’t mind too much in the end!! I did as I soon had to start listening to her tactical advice on the way home. Nothing has changed there either. I also had to sit in KFC in Newport on every journey down. Not the nicest way to start a Friday evening.
I came back to the next Revolution event fired up and ready to go. It all started to come together I got on the track and won my first race;the 1 mile dash. I can picture attacking from 4th wheel with a lap and a half to go. With that win I found my confidence. I went on to win another two of the three races. My best moment however wasn’t the win it actually came in the form of a promise (censored), if I won the next race, from a woman in the audience. I won the next race but I didn’t receive the promise: shame! I did however make one of the biggest mistakes of my life in this round, I gave my flowers to a local girl who was also racing. My Mum wasn’t pleased and that mistake has never been made since.
That year I finished second overall in the ‘Future Stars’, which went down to the wire with the last race deciding the overall. I thought I was nervous but my Mum told me that Dad actually had not spent more than about 10 minute in his seat he was so nervous. I can tell you now nothing has changed there either; so if you see a man repeatedly getting up and down to go to the toilet it’s probably my dad!!
I was back again for the third year; this time as a senior. This year I was lucky enough to have my own white skin suit with rainbow stripes.
I still get a rush from riding the Revolution events. I can’t wait to get back on the track, on the 19th November. I have started getting a dry mouth and the sparkle in my eye already.
Visit www.andytennant.co.uk for more on my life in the Olympic Academy.
