PETE Kibble clinched a medal at the Welsh Circuit Championships for the third time but admits that he was frustrated at coming agonisingly close to earning his first national gold.

The 14-year-old, from New Zealand, near Calne, pushed British Cycling Olympic development programme rider Joe Holt all the way in the boys’ U16 race at the Llandow Circuit on Sunday but had to settle for silver as he was beaten to the line by a whisker.

“It was a really close race and there must have only been about 20cm in it – if only the line was a little bit closer,” said Kibble, who also won U18 bronze at Welsh Ten-mile Time Trial Championships in August.

“Joe’s won two national jerseys and he’s the British number one but I came so close to winning.

“I was happy with the silver medal afterwards and it’s been a really good season but it would be nice to get the gold. There’s always next year.”

Kibble severed the end of his left ring finger in a freak mountain biking accident in August but the injury has not hampered his progress.

He said: “It’s all healed now and I don’t really use that finger for braking, so it’s going to be fine.”

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