ABERGAVENNY cyclist Becky James claimed two silver medals at the British Cycling National Track Championships in Manchester, while Lewis Oliva and Ciara Horne won gold.

After an injury-hit 2014 it was an encouraging return to form for former world champion James.

On Friday the 23-year-old was beaten into second in the sprint by Katy Marchant.

The former heptathlete from Leeds affirmed 2015 as her breakthrough year, defeating defending champion Jess Varnish on her way to the title.

And, as James’ boyfriend George North was helping Wales beat England at Twickenham on Saturday, Marchant gained some revenge her compatriots by beating James to gold again in the women’s keirin.

Marchant faced world-class opposition in the final, up against defending champion Varnish, former world champion James, Helen Scott, Victoria Williamson and Laura Trott.

Marchant leapt from the back of the group at the crucial moment in the final and held off the challenge of James, with Varnish taking bronze.

“It doesn't get much better than that does it, I'm really happy,” said Marchant, who won two more golds on Sunday in the 500m time trial and team sprint with Varnish.

Trott claimed three golds, collecting the women’s individual pursuit title after an enthralling final against 2014 champion Katie Archibald, retaining the scratch race title and winning the points race on Sunday.

In the individual pursuit on Friday she beat Katie Archibald into second, while Wales’ Horne, who trains in Newport, won bronze.

And in the scratch race on Saturday Trott again pipped Archibald and the bronze medal again went to a Welsh rider – Manon Lloyd of Team USN.

In the men’s keirin final Monmouthshire’s Oliva took silver behind Matt Crampton but he went one better to claim the men’s sprint title in a dominant display.

Devauden rider Oliva dispatched the powerful Matt Rotherham in the final in two straight rides.

“It's fantastic,” said a delighted Oliva. “It's what we all work towards, for me this is the pinnacle of this weekend; this is something that I've really wanted for a number of years.

“To come here today and finish the job we started this morning, I can only be happy. This is something that's really been close to my heart for a number of years. It's almost as important as Wales winning the rugby!”

Also on Saturday night there was gold for Horne as she won the team pursuit with her Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International teammates Archibald, Dame Sarah Storey, and Joanna Rowsell Shand.

“That's my first ever national title, I'm delighted with that,” said Horne. “It's a brilliant team effort, I'm super proud to be on the podium with three other incredible athletes. It means a lot (to win the national jersey); I don't really want to take it off right now.

“You might see me wandering around the velodrome with it on for a fair bit longer! To have the stripes, what an honour!”

There was also a bronze medal for Newport’s Lauren Booth in the para-cycling mixed C1-C5 200-metre time trial.