A BUSY week for Halesowen Athletic and Cycling Club’s cyclists culminated in their fourth win of the year.

Forrest Humphreys took the fourth-category race at the Shrewsbury Sports Village last Sunday to seal his promotion to third category.

Charles Walker had a stellar week, holding his lead in the Shropshire and South Staffs handicap Road Race League with third place on Thursday night near Telford behind Raleigh professional Jack Escritt, and taking giant steps towards his first-category licence with a run of placings.

Tuesday night saw Walker take fourth place in a rain-soaked race at Stourport, and Thursday’s strong sprint finish at Telford was followed by a brace of third places over the weekend, on Saturday against elite and first-category riders on the old motor racing circuit at Darley Moor in Staffordshire, and Sunday behind Kirk Vickers in the second and third category race at Shrewsbury.

Walker is being well supported by his teammates at the Halesowen A &CC Academy, with Joe Hobbs placing eighth in the blanket finish at Telford on Thursday and Oli Dighton taking 10th on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Halesowen track league continued with over 70 riders at the town’s Manor Abbey stadium for the second week running.

This weekend the West Midlands calendar takes a breather, with Walker continuing against the elite riders at Wellingborough.