HOLME VALLEY Wheelers may just have unearthed a new ‘Ed Clancy’ after Ben Kellett lifted the National Junior Hillclimb title.
The 16-year-old from Holmfirth scorched to success in nearby Stocksbridge to win the Under 16 Category, but was also elevated to first-placed finisher in the Under 18 Category when the only cyclist to finish in front of him in that section was subsequently disqualified.
It was a tremendous performance from the Wheelers’ rider, who admitted to being very tired, the Hillclimb event coming at the end of a long racing season in which Kellett had competed in a series of events throughout the year.
“Ben was not particularly looking forward to competing in the Hillclimb Championship, and only really went along because it was quite local,” said mum Nicola.
“He didn’t take up the sport of road racing until he was 13, and was inspired after watching the Tour de France on television, and promptly said ‘that is what I want to do.’
“Before cycling took a complete hold, he used to play rugby league with Underbank juniors and was also a cornet player with Hade Edge Band, but all that went out of the window when he decided to concentrate on making his way as a serious cyclist.
“He is now training 20 hours a week, and has just moved into the Elite 1 and 2 categories at the Velodrome in Manchester, where he trains once a week during the winter season.”
A former pupil at Holmfirth High School, Kellett, who is now in his first year studying Sports Science at Huddersfield New College, finished in overall 31st position in a field of 130 entries, which included professionals riders and top amateurs from around the country.
Kellett has just received another bonus with the news he has been chosen to join the VS Cycles team in Brighouse, who will be entering a series of events in the Junior National series throughout the country this year.
“Ben’s new road-racing season starts with his first race on February 28, and runs right through until mid-September, and this year he will be riding all over the country with three races in Wales, as well as others in Somerset, Worcestershire and Sussex. In fact Yorkshire is about the only place where they hardly hold any races,” added Nicola.
Kellet’s reward for winning the National Hillclimb Championship was to receive his trophy from professional cyclist Dan Lloyd at the presentation evening held down at the Nottingham Conference Centre.
Holme Valley Wheelers secretary Christine Tiffany said:
“It was a wonderful achievement for a young lad from Huddersfield, and Ben’s tremendous effort follows a well-established hillclimbing tradition within Huddersfield cycling clubs.”
