HALESOWEN Juniors took the opportunity to show their elder team-mates how they can ride last weekend.

Saturday saw the fourth round of the National Series held in Hillingdon, Middlesex. First up in the under-12 section was Luke Harris, a regular finisher in the top 10 nationally.

In the under-14s, Jamieson Blain, former schoolboy champion and fresh from his fourth place in the previous round, put on a fine show attacking the field in trademark style.

He was caught by the peloton but still placed top 20 in the final sprint to gain more series points.

Last up for Halesowen was Oliver Dighton, younger brother of road racer Sam Dighton, in the under-16 race. Oliver attacked off the front early before the 80 strong field reeled him in after a lap out on his own.

He was undeterred, however, and stayed at the front of the race throughout coming off the final bend in second place and hanging on in a bunch sprint for a top 20 position to open his account in the Series points standing.

West Midlands rider Jake Stewart posted a fine third place in the race with a trademark sprint.

On the Sunday it was the sixth round of the Midland Regional championships at Sundorne circuit, Shrewsbury, and a large Halesowen contingent quickly made their presence felt with Ella Harris taking third overall in the under-18 girls.

Next up was her older brother Luke, lying in second place in the series, who went one better this time round to grab a fine first place.

The under-14 race was well represented with five Halesowen riders.

Jamieson, despite his efforts the previous day, once again attacked the field and split the pack with only Lewis Askey from Lichfield able to stay with him.

Disaster struck though as Jamieson took a corner too fast crashing painfully and necessitating a trip to the pits to get the bike working again.

Undaunted, he chased back on and caught most of the bunch finishing in fourth and protecting his series standing of second.

There were some fine rides from other Halesowen riders, in particular Liam Allen who showed real guts in finishing sixth, which will catapult him up the rankings from his current 28th place. All the other riders from the club also will have improved on their series standings with Simon Wylie, Henry Lloyd Langston and Josh Field all putting in fine rides.

Finally, in the under-16s, it was Oliver's turn again in a strong field. He took the start in first place in the Series in a hotly contested field. In a fast race several riders launched attacks and Devon Round from mid Shropshire Wheelers was particularly aggressive in front of his home crowd. However the sprinters were in no mood to let anyone get away and it was another bunch sprint with Charlie Cox from Lichfield taking the honours. Dighton put in a great last effort to catch two of his rivals on the line and podium in third place.