SWINDON teenager Christopher Rothwell saddled his way to a silver medal at the HSBC UK National Cyclo-Cross Championships in Bradford last weekend.

The tricky course in Peel Park saw riders take on a combination of drier semi-woodland and grassland stretches as well as more challenging muddy and steep sections.

New College student Rothwell, 18, claimed an impressive runners-up finish in the U23 men’s race during the two-day competition in Yorkshire behind winner Billy Harding, who led from the start to finish to take victory in 51 minutes 36 seconds.

Rothwell rode a tactical race behind as Frazer Clacherty was Harding’s initial pursuer but he set off too hard and was overhauled by the former Ridgeway School pupil, who then built up a hefty gap to finish comfortably in second place in 51:56.

Clacherty did at least have the consolation of holding on for the bronze medal by the time he crossed the finish line.

The performance of Rothwell, who is sponsored by Ride 24/7 in Cirencester, is all the more impressive considering he was not only racing riders several years older than himself, but that he also only took up the sport four years ago after an initial foray into mountain biking.