ALASTAIR HEPWORTH from Huddersfield won the British Schools Cycling Under 16 National Circuit Championship.
The event was held over nine laps of the 1.5-mile Darley Moor Circuit near Ashbourne in Derbyshire.
Hepworth, a member of Batley Cycling Club, was riding for his school, Batley Grammar.
Having finished third in last year’s Under 14 event, Alastair was confident going into the event.
He would, however, have to overcome last year’s winner, Daniel Murphy of Milton Keynes, and Dan Whelan of Bridgewater College, a stage winner in the Isle of Man Youth Tour, to land the title.
Despite numerous attacks, no-one could escape the bunch, until Luke Simpson of Abbey Grange, Leeds, gave everyone the slip on lap six.
Despite his best efforts he could not gain more than 15 seconds and was back in the bunch at the start of the penultimate lap.
In the sprint finish, Hepworth confidently came off Murphy’s wheel with 150m to go to win by three lengths.
Hepworth has trained hard for the event with other club members, with rides often more than 100 miles on a Sunday.
