Jelfs makes it a happy birthday

9:14am Wednesday 2nd April 2008

MARLBROOK'S Dominic Jelfs celebrated his 18th birthday in style with ninth place overall in the prestigious Herne Hill Golden Hill event in London, followed by second place in the Junior National series road race in Abergavenny, South Wales.

Jelfs, who rides for Bromsgrove-based MJS Racing, is in his last year as a junior, and placed consistently in all of the stages to earn a top 10 place.

He said: "I knew I had to start the season well as I am hoping to do well overall in the series.

"After last week's racing at Herne Hill, London I knew I had good form coming into the event."

Jelfs had competed in the International Good Friday meeting, where he finished first and sixth overall against an international field in the 10-mile Golden Wheel race.

Team manager Stefan Pearce said: "Dom has great ambitions on both the road and the track and he is improving all of the time.

I am hoping he can carry the form into this weekend's Echelon two-day road race at Malvern, where he will be riding with team-mate Ben Stockdale."

On Saturday, MJS also rode Victoria Park Circuit races at Leamington Spa with Rich Deeley getting into an early break and Vince Page finishing fifth.

Sunday saw Richard and George Bate ride the Elizabethan Hilly 21-mile time trail at Bridgnorth, with both finishing well up the field.

For more information on the MJS Racing team, log on to www.mjsrac ing.net.

Junior rider James Plant made a superb start to his racing career for Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club when he rode his first circuit road race.

The 12-year-old made the long journey to Milton Keynes Bowl to compete in the under-14s category race which was held in awful conditions.

Despite being one of the smallest riders in the race, he coped well with the fast pace to finish in 11th place overall.

Plant then went on to ride the VC Sevale 10-mile time trial in Stoke on Saturday, and despite having to ride in strong gusting winds, he completed the tough, technical course in a superb time of 40 minutes 39 seconds.

He is now aiming for a good showing when he enters the Shrewsbury circuit races which start on May 17.

Elsewhere at the VC Sevale, Jon Howard was fastest overall to cross the line for Wyre Forest with a time of 24.13, which earned him ninth place overall, followed by Andy Convery (24.37) in 12th, Dave Prior (31.09) in 41st, Brian Clarke (31.35) in 44th, Mick Gray (32.46) in 46th.

Wyre Forest's other junior rider in the event, Louise Rotherham was the first junior woman home in 36.39.

For further information about Wyre Forest Racing Club, log on to www.wfcrc.org.uk.

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