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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Cycle champion's £12k bike theft | Cycle champion's £12k bike theft |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Six bikes belonging to a 16-year-old cycling champion, who represents Wales and Great Britain, have been stolen from the garage of his family home. | Six bikes belonging to a 16-year-old cycling champion, who represents Wales and Great Britain, have been stolen from the garage of his family home. |
| The bikes used by Sam Harrison and others belonging to his father and brother, five, were taken from the garage in Risca, Newport, on Friday. | The bikes used by Sam Harrison and others belonging to his father and brother, five, were taken from the garage in Risca, Newport, on Friday. |
| They are worth about £12,000 and Gwent Police are investigating. | They are worth about £12,000 and Gwent Police are investigating. |
| Sam said he was worried he would not be able to perform to his best at next week's European Championship selection. | Sam said he was worried he would not be able to perform to his best at next week's European Championship selection. |
| He is borrowing a bike from a friend to continue training and said he will probably have to use it when he takes part in a training camp where cyclists will be selected to take part in the championship in Belarus. | He is borrowing a bike from a friend to continue training and said he will probably have to use it when he takes part in a training camp where cyclists will be selected to take part in the championship in Belarus. |
| "It was a big shock and it's really affected my training," said Sam of the theft. | "It was a big shock and it's really affected my training," said Sam of the theft. |
| "I've borrowed a bike from my mate but it's not the same as having my own bike. I'd spent ages customising my bikes and getting them in the right position to fit me. | "I've borrowed a bike from my mate but it's not the same as having my own bike. I'd spent ages customising my bikes and getting them in the right position to fit me. |
| "I'm worried I'm not going to be able to perform my best on a borrowed bike." | "I'm worried I'm not going to be able to perform my best on a borrowed bike." |
| Only Planet X team members can ride these bikes so I'm hoping someone might recognise it - it's a very bright pink Simon Harrison, father | Only Planet X team members can ride these bikes so I'm hoping someone might recognise it - it's a very bright pink Simon Harrison, father |
| His father, businessman Simon Harrison, 42, said his son - a Cross Keys college pupil - said he was "devastated and angry" for Sam. | His father, businessman Simon Harrison, 42, said his son - a Cross Keys college pupil - said he was "devastated and angry" for Sam. |
| "It is a disaster really for Sam. His bikes are so specialised," he said. | |
| "He practises on average three hours a day, six days a week. I am very, very angry and was absolutely devastated for my five-year-old son Oliver and my older one because he's going to be severely hampered at something he loves and is really good at." | "He practises on average three hours a day, six days a week. I am very, very angry and was absolutely devastated for my five-year-old son Oliver and my older one because he's going to be severely hampered at something he loves and is really good at." |
| Mr Harrison said the bikes, which were chained and locked up inside their detached garage, were stolen at about 0430 BST on Friday. | Mr Harrison said the bikes, which were chained and locked up inside their detached garage, were stolen at about 0430 BST on Friday. |
| He was woken by his neighbour on the small cul-de-sac where he lives early on Friday, who told him he had heard a noise and saw two men wearing black balaclavas driving off in a Land Rover. | He was woken by his neighbour on the small cul-de-sac where he lives early on Friday, who told him he had heard a noise and saw two men wearing black balaclavas driving off in a Land Rover. |
| The bikes stolen include a bright pink road bike worth £2,500 given to him by Planet X, the team Sam rides for. | |
| "Only Planet X team members can ride these bike so I'm hoping someone might recognise it - it's a very bright pink," said Mr Harrison. | "Only Planet X team members can ride these bike so I'm hoping someone might recognise it - it's a very bright pink," said Mr Harrison. |
| Record holder | Record holder |
| Other bikes taken included a Pinarello bike worth £2,500 and two mountain bikes, worth a combined £3,000. | Other bikes taken included a Pinarello bike worth £2,500 and two mountain bikes, worth a combined £3,000. |
| "He needs at least three bikes - two for competition and another to train on," added Mr Harrison. | "He needs at least three bikes - two for competition and another to train on," added Mr Harrison. |
| "He also does velodrome cycling but luckily his bikes for those were at the velodrome." | "He also does velodrome cycling but luckily his bikes for those were at the velodrome." |
| He said Sam, who has represented Wales for the last two years and GB since the end of last year, is working towards a place in the 2012 Olympics. | He said Sam, who has represented Wales for the last two years and GB since the end of last year, is working towards a place in the 2012 Olympics. |
| He was chosen for a place on a boys' Olympic development programme a year early. | He was chosen for a place on a boys' Olympic development programme a year early. |
| In the velodrome, he is British champion in the under-16 points race and scratch race and holds the British record for the under-16 2km pursuit. | In the velodrome, he is British champion in the under-16 points race and scratch race and holds the British record for the under-16 2km pursuit. |
| The cyclist was also in the top 10 shortlist for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2008. | The cyclist was also in the top 10 shortlist for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2008. |
| If anyone has any information about the stolen bikes they can contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111. |