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A HALESOWEN cycling star will be racing against the best riders in the world after she earned a surprise call-up to the Great Britain squad competing at the World Track Championships.

Jessica Varnish, 17, will get her first taste of senior action at a major tournament after impressing national coaches during a recent training camp.

The Halesowen Athletics and Cycling Club member will be rubbing shoulders with Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins in the British squad and taking on the best the world has to offer in the sprint and keirin events.

Dad James Varnish said: "Jessica was invited along to the training camp a few weeks ago and really impressed the coaches.

"She's going to be up against the best in the world and rubbing shoulders with some really great riders in the British squad.

"She has no expectations of how she will do at the tournament but she will prepare like she always does - to win.

"Whatever happens this will be a great learning experience for Jess. She'll be the baby of the squad and all the other senior riders will be there to support her."

Varnish has been one of the world's leading juniors and produced a series of impressive performance at the World Junior Championships in Mexico last year and also finished second in the women's keirin race at the European Championships.

The cycling starlet was one of two surprise call-ups to the national squad, along with David Daniell, and is one of the youngest ever women to be selected.

The championships, which started yesterday (Wednesday) welcomed the best riders in the world to the Manchester Velodrome and Varnish will begin her challenge tomorrow (Friday).

British coaches will be hoping to better last season's impressive performance at the tournament, where Britain won seven gold medals.

This is also Varnish's last chance to catch the eye of selectors before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the summer.

Dave Brailsford, Performance Director of the GB Cycling Team said: "This team is an exciting mix of experienced World Champions and talented young riders who are breaking through.

"It will be a special championships for everyone in the team: not only is it the last major event before the Beijing Olympics; it is also taking place on our home track in Manchester, where we will be able to count great crowd support," added Jessica.

Meanwhile, the younger members of Halesowen Athletics and Cycling Club cycling section have had a great season in the West Midlands Cyclo Cross League.

The club topped the league table with 849.6 points with second-placed finishing a long way behind on 778.5 points.

Star performers throughout the campaign included Jack Ravenscroft and Angela Eggleton who won the U12s boys and girls categories as well as coming third in the National Cyclo Cross Championships.

There were also wins for Jordan Sharples in the girls U10s category and Cameron Biddle in the U12s boys.

While Lorna Sharples was the top competitor in the U8s girls category.

Club press officer Peter Baker said: "These are tremendous results as this is the first year of riding for some of these riders.

"These are great results which the riders will build on for next year."

10:38am Thursday 27th March 2008

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