THE MILES that 15-year-old Stratford Cycling Club teenager Jess O’Riley has been putting into her training and racing this year brought just rewards as she finished second in the latest round of the West Midlands Youth Races in Solihull.
O’Riley has finished in the top six in most of her races this season and her silver medal in this event followed a recent fourth place.
Sunday saw a trio of Stratford CC members compete in the Hinckley CRC ten-mile time trial and amongst them was 13-year-old Baden Green, for whom the event had added importance as it was the qualifying event for the national final of the GHS ten-mile championship later in the season.
In his first time trial on the undulating course he was dogged by a persistent unhelpful crosswind but produced a creditable performance to record a time of 29 minutes, two seconds to finish third overall in the youth section and first boy in the 13-year-old category.
After the event Green reflected on it as a valuable learning experience which offered him clear understanding of how he can improve and he is proud and looking forward to representing the club in the national final.
The GHS final will be held on September 10 using a circuit close to Alcester and is organised by Stratford CC, which will have a busy weekend as it is also promoting the National Circuit Time Trial Championship the following day.
