Spalding young guns dazzle at Heckington

FLYING START: Emily Richards, Megan Kendall, Molly Peel and Will Gurney speed away at the Heckington Show. Photo by TIM BRYETT

A team of ten juniors from Spalding Cycling Club formed two teams at the Heckington Show – and secured fine finishes of second and third.

In front of a large crowd, the boys and girls took part in a variety of races against a strong Witham Wheelers contingent on the grass track.

With one race for each age group left to decide the outcome, the teams were separated by just one point from each other and the pressure was on.

With the success of previous years at the same event in mind, the teams finished just behind Witham – but remained separated by that single point.

After a full programme of racing on the grass, Bryn and Emily Richards and Ben Norton left straight away to travel to Cardiff for the National Youth Circuit Race Series, where all three competed in two races each.

The Richards duo both rode strongly in the under-10s race, finishing in the lead group in the first race.

Emily finished as fifth girl overall, while Norton placed in the top 20. Bryn’s first under-12 race saw him put in a fine performance to finish in the lead group and in the second race fought hard again to maintain that position to finish 17th overall.

In the under-14 races, Jake Norton and Matt Ellis were just as successful. Norton headed the leaderboard for a while in the time trial but ended the event in the top ten, while Ellis was just outside of that top ten.

Later on, both finished their 20-lap race in the front group – giving them places in the top 20.

• The ten mile 2-Up Team Time Trial Championships were held in cool conditions this year, with a full-on head wind.

Neil Palmer, paired this year with Andy Bowser, topped the leaderboard with a 23.18mins. They were chased hard by Adam Ellis and under-14 Matt Ellis (23.57mins).

Andrew Gurney and under-18 ace rider Sam Bentley were next home, one second ahead of Chris Pratt and S Thompson.

• Other results: Shane and Jake Norton 26.37 (mins); Sarah Plows and Derek Chamberlains 27.48; Gerry Charlwood and Ross McGivern 27.55; Barry Drew and Gary Bentley 30.00; Chris Bettinson and Peter Hull 30.43; Chris and Warren Peel 31.59; Tom Webster and Tom Webster 32.28; Rob Boothman and Wayne Billermore 27.28; William Boothman and T Billermore 32.47; Brian Johnstone and Clare Wookey 33.25; Katie Wright and Simon Wright 34.39.