Harrogate Nova youngsters continue fine start to 2026 season at Isle of Man Youth Tour
Harrogate Nova’s Youth Racing Team continued their impressive start to the 2026 season when they visited the Isle of Man.
Despite being up against the very best young riders in the whole of the United Kingdom, the club performed superbly in the opening two events of the National Youth Circuit Series, in Wales and then Scotland.
As far as youth racing is concerned, the start of May means only one thing – the Isle of Man Youth Tour, which is a prestigious three-day competition.
Seven Nova members made the trip this year – Bobby Whatmuff (Under-12s) Erin Denwood (U14s) Jake Thornton (U14s), Dan Shipton, Josh Stewart, Reuben Hart and Patrick Kavanagh (U16s).
The first stage was a two-minute prologue along the promenade in Douglas. All of the Harrogate contingent rode solidly, with the standout performance coming from Whatmuff, who finished fourth.
Day two saw competitors riding a largely flat circuit around Jurby.
Buoyed by his prologue result, Whatmuff produced an unmatchable turn of speed in the sprint, winning the U-12s race and moving into the overall lead.
Meanwhile, in the U-14s category, Thornton rode an aggressive race where he took bonus seconds, and was just pipped to the victory. Second place left him second in the overall standings.
Shipton was the pick of Nova’s U-16 contingent, coming home in sixth position.
The final day took place on the new Stuggadhoo Circuit, where in the U-12s section, Whatmuff delivered once again, securing second place following another fine effort.
The U-16 team performed strongly as a collective and, in the final sprint, Shipton seized fourth spot, while Stewart – who is more at home in the hills – came in a credible 12th.
Denwood went on to place eighth in the U14s’ age-group before Thornton went all out for the overall win, taking bonus seconds, attacking his rivals and going solo.
Eventually though, he was brought back and the race ended in a sprint.
On the whole, the weekend was a productive one for the Nova riders, particularly Whatmuff, who took the runners-up spot, and Thornton, who finished third overall.