CYCLING: JACK Rootkin demonstrated his talent after taking third place at the West Midlands Circuit Race on Saturday.
The Solihull Cycling Club rider was one of 13 young riders from the club that made their way up to Stourport for the first round of the West Midlands Youth Circuit Series.
There are seven rounds in total, with Solihull’s race taking place at Tudor Grange on July 15, which is also the end of the series.
The day started with races for U8s, U10s, U12s, U14s, U16s and Juniors (U18s) but it was the penultimate race of the day in the U16 race where Solihull achieved their best result.
Jack Rootkin-Gray, who has recently been selected as a GB Cycling Team Olympic Development Apprentice, beat several riders in a bunch sprint to finish third. The race set off at high speed, with the pace being forced early on, leading to a split of three riders, who gained a small lead.
The leading two riders worked well together and held the gap to the chasing group which had now reduced to about ten riders due to the high pace. Jack, a Solihull School pupil, unleashed a Mark Cavendish like sprint to take the remaining podium place.
In the Under-9s category Teddy Wright finished ninth and Matthew Hitchmough was tenth, while Sam Brownsword came 12th in the U10s group.
Solihull had four riders in the U12 category with Max Saunders coming 12th, Conor Jones was 14th, Oliver Tandy was 23rd and Joshua Pearson came 32nd.
The next race in the series takes place this Sunday at Shrewsbury Sports Village.
