HALESOWEN Cycling Club has announced the launch of its junior academy for 2015,

The team features three home-grown riders in the form of Sam Dighton, Herefordshire racer Patrick Fotheringham and Stourbridge’s Charles Walker, who will be supported by a range of suppliers including Olympic icon Sir Chris Hoy’s cycle company.

The three young cyclists are second year juniors, and all raced strongly against senior opposition in 2014, with Walker landing two wins, and Fotheringham one.

The trio have all been developed through Halesowen’s club coaching system which caters for young riders from eight upwards.

Halesowen road team manager, former Milk Race cyclist Dave Viner said: “We have run a strong and successful road team for several years now, with riders going on to race for national-level teams, and the academy is a natural addition to that. Giving additional support to talented and committed juniors from within the club will benefit them massively at a key stage of their cycling careers. This project will also give added impetus to our younger riders, who will look at these lads and want to be part of it.”

The three cyclists will receive a support package for 2015 which includes frames supplied by multiple Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy through his cycle company, race kit from Pro Vision, which is run by former national champion Steve Joughin, nutrition from WorldTour team supplier OTE, carbon-fibre Ikon race wheels from Ludlow cycle shop Epic, helmets and glasses by Italian firms LAS and Briko.

Halesowen cycling club is one of the oldest-established in the West Midlands, with its own 400-metre velodrome in Manor Abbey Way, which has developed Olympic team members, world and national champions over the years.

For more details about the club and the academy visit halesowencycling.net

Meanwhile, things did not go well for Dighton last weekend when he rode The Cadence Road Race in south Wales - the first round of the junior national series.

The youngster was brought off in a crash which eventually ended his challenge.

The determined 17-year-old landed in a bush and was not injured so he got back on his bike and, after a hard chase, regained the main field only to fall back again on the start of a climb.

After riding for a further two laps in cold and wet conditions, Dighton did the sensible thing and retired from the race.

He has now joined some club team-mates on a training week in Spain.