Corrine Hall says being crowned national cycling champion has still to sink in.

The Mitcham 18-year-old, who rides for Team Corridori, took gold in the women’s points race at the National Cycling Centre Velodrome in Manchester last week.

“I cannot really believe it – it hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Hall.

“I am over the moon.

“My 2010 started slowly but I then began to get a number of second places and now it is nice to get gold.”

The event involved Hall riding 120 laps of the velodrome, a distance of 30km, with five points on offer for a sprint every 10 laps.

“I was not getting anywhere in the sprints early on so I thought I had to do something,” she said.

“I could not afford to sit in.

“I started trying to gain a lap and the turns went brilliantly. The crowd support was mega.”

The future looks exciting for the former pupil of Raynes Park School with the London 2012 Olympics on the horizon.

“I have been thinking about the Olympics for a while but, if that does not happen, there is the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.

“I have had a gap year this year and I have basically just been cycling.

“I am about to do a strength and conditioning course at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. I am looking forward to doing something in between my cycling.

“I will have a bit of a break but I am aiming for the World Championships in January so I will be back into training for that.

“I just need to avoid all the fast food at university.”