HALESOWEN A&CC had another highly successful week with Charles Walker showing why he has obtained his Category One licence — just one step below the highest domestic category available.

In an elite race he took his first win at this level after a long day out in the Severn Valley RR — Andy Poole Memorial.

The 84-mile race went straight from the gun with the 18-year-old, from Stourbridge, showing no fear as he attacked from the very start.

Joined initially by two other riders, the winning break swelled to 15 and built up a lead of over three-and-a-half minutes over the peloton.

One rider made a break for victory but Walker led the other escapees up the narrow and steep finishing climb before attacking once again to catching the lone rider 200 metres from the finish before powering to victory.

The teenager was also overall winner of the four-day Ras De Cymru earlier this month, winning a stage in the process.

After clinching the victory, Walker said “I drove hard into the final climb, I didn’t sprint but just accelerated and road everybody else off my wheel.

“I was surprised the break stayed away and a lot of riders faded on the last lap as I don’t think they had raced that sort of distance before.”