Bradford cyclist Billy Harding knows that at 14 his career is well and truly in its infancy – but insists he is more than willing to wait for a shot at the big time.

Harding saw his raw potential recognised after being named as one of 344 future Olympic hopefuls on the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative.

He competed in the first of five British Mountain Bike Cross-Country Series races at Sherwood Pines, finishing 11th in the boys youth race.

The Birkenshaw Middle School pupil next heads to Dalby Forest, the same venue where the second leg of the senior UCI World Cup series will be held in May.

And while conceding that racing in the World Cup series is years off yet, Harding admits his latest recognition a £1,000 cash injection has given him the motivation needed to get there one day.

He said: “I am really looking forward to the national series races this year. The next one is in Dalby Forest, where they have a main World Cup.

“It is a great circuit but unfortunately I am a bit young to enter any of the races on offer over that weekend in May but to get a run on the track will be great.

“I’ve not done anything for Britain yet and juniors means under-18 and that is a couple of years away for me but hopefully I will get there sooner rather than later.”

* Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 344 emerging athletes all the way to London 2012 and beyond. Follow the future stars of TeamGB and ParalympicsGB at: www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes.

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