Winding road to success

Amanda Dundas was forced to call time on her karate career after two anterior cruciate ligament tears and almost two years of intensive 
rehab.

The 16-year-old, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Karate championships in Sydney Australia in 2011, changed her focus to cycling on the advice of her doctor.

And the Newton Mearns youngster is proving to be just as talented on a bike as she was in a gi.

At the British Cycling national women’s Omnium series track event — her first event at British level — she placed fourth.

At the competition, which took place at the Caird Velodrome in Dundee on Sunday, Amanda competed for points in five events, from short timed sprints to an 8K race.

While injured, the sportswoman volunteered at the at the UCI Junior World Track Championships in August 2013 and was bitten by the cycling bug.

Now, to top off her road to recovery, Amanda has been named as a Queen’s batonbearer for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

She told ExtraSport: “I am so privileged to have been nominated as a batonbearer for the Games.

“After all, I have been through with the ACL tear, giving up my sport and finding a new sport I love.

“I think that 2014 is going to be one of the best years for me. ”

Brian Kelly, from Paisley Velo Racing Team, has taken Amanda under his wing since her change of sport.

“She’s a determined young lady and has taken to competitive track and road cycling like a true athlete”, he said.

“Her dedication and attitude to training is a great example to others.”

Amanda will compete this Saturday in the first Scottish National Womens Road Races series, which cover a course of 40miles along the A77.

The race starts at 10am, with registration at the Ivy India in Newton Mearns — where the prize giving will also take place at noon.

Further events in the series take place in Edinburgh on May 24, Inverness on June 15 and Aberdeenshire on August 30.

Later this year Amanda has her sights on competing at the British Junior Track Championships at the Manchester Velodrome.

She will also take part in the Scottish Track Championships at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.