Champion cyclist Abi wins two more major titles

CHAMPION cyclist Abi Smith is celebrating winning two more major titles.

The 17-year-old Ripon Grammar School sixth former, who competed in the World Road Championships for Team GB, won the Junior Sporting Excellence title at The Northern Echo’s Local Heroes awards.

She also came home triumphant from the Senior Scottish National Championships as Scottish National Points champion, as well as winning a silver medal in the scratch race.

In addition, she is thought to have claimed a national junior record with her ride in the 3,000m individual pursuit, which is currently being verified.

Abi was up against stiff competition for the Local Heroes award, which celebrates elite and grass roots sporting achievements throughout the North-East and North Yorkshire: "I felt very honoured to get it," she said.

Other contenders were India Pentland, 17, one of the country’s most promising young distance runners and winner of the U17s title at the British Cross-country Championships, and Thomas Rayner, 15, one of the most exciting table tennis prospects in the country and a national champion.

This year the sparkling awards ceremony, now in its 20th year, was held at Wynyard Hall and attended by leading sporting North-East sporting figures including Steve Cram, Craig Liddle, Graeme Storm, Laura Weightman, Allison Curbishley and Max Coates.

Ripon Grammar Schools U18 netball team was nominated for the Junior Team of the Year award, won by St Joseph’s School girls’ football team.