THE purple jersey of Halesowen Athletics and Cycling Club was on display at the National Championships as Jack Stanton-Warren tested himself against the country's best.
Stanton-Warren travelled to the Isle of Man last Sunday as one of the few riders to qualify that's not from a professional team.
The Halesowen rider was competing against multiple Tour de France stage winners, gold medal Olympians and a host of internationally famous riders.
Against this backdrop and on a hilly demanding course, Stanton Warren did superbly to finish in 40th out of a starting line up of over 100 riders.
Former Halesowen academy rider Callum Ferguson also did well coming home in a very creditable 65th place.
The winner was Steve Cummings, current Tour of Britain champion and winner of several stages in the Grand Tours. Cummings bridged across to the leading group of 5 riders before attacking again and winning by a handful of seconds.
In the under-23 time trial, another former Hales rider, 19-year-old rider Charles Walker, put in a superb effort to finish 15th in what was also a highly competitive field.
Walker should take great heart from this performance as he builds on his first road racing season since graduating from the club's academy.
Finally, at under-18 level, Ben Healy, another junior who has come through the Halesowen system, was taking part in the Junior National Series in Monmouth. Showing all the strength and skill that saw him dominate the Halesowen Road Race earlier this year, he came through in a fine fourth place.
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