JACK Stanton-Warren gave the Halesowen Cycling Club Academy their first ever finisher in one of the prestigious and tough Premier Calendar events.

He ran in 45th in the Klondike Grand Prix in Cleveland, finishing just off the back of the main pack led in by professional Chris Latham of Team Wiggins.

The Ludlow racer travelled to the north-east uncertain of his form due to a recent knee injury but performed above expectations to complete the tough 92-mile event, first in a season-long series made up of the hardest one-day races in the UK, and contested by the country’s professional squads with an eye on selection for the Tour of Britain.

Two former Halesowen riders performed well in their first major test of the season, with Jacob Tipper of Brother NRG finishing seventh in the sprint and Callum Ferguson of Catford Banks managing 20th.

Elsewhere there were mixed fortunes for riders from Halesowen academy, sponsored by local mineral water company Wenlock Spring. Patrick Fotheringham and Nick Clayton contested the 80-mile Coalville Wheelers event in the East Midlands, with Fotheringham crashing out early on, while Clayton rode strongly before succumbing to cramp.

This weekend the Halesowen Academy riders continue their build-up to the Tour of the North in Northern Ireland at Easter, with Stanton-Warren contesting the second round of the Premier Calendar, the Tour of the Wolds in Lincolnshire, while Fotheringham and Clayton are in action in Abergavenny and Warwickshire.