CYCLE Sport Pendle are ready to unleash a tide of talented teenagers on the cycle scene following Georgia Ashworth’s impressive showing in the International Youth Cycling Tour.

Georgia, 15, was awarded the Racing Chance Foundation trophy for being the North West’s highest placed girl at the event after she finished seventh on the general classification.

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The Park High School pupil shone in the opening hill climb where she finished second and she continued to ride strongly in the closing stages of the race to cross the line in the bunch and complete the race in seventh place.

It was a particularly impressive performance from the Colne star given the nature of a high-class field which included 62 riders drawn from the UK and Belgium.

But Cycle Sport Pendle (CSP) coaches believe Georgia is just one of many talents within the ranks, emphasised by her clubmate Lucky Horrocks crossing the line in ninth overall.

CSP riders Rhiannon Gornall and Corrinne Side also performed well while Lucy Naylor came home seventh in the B race in what was her first youth tour event.

“The girls’ section at the moment is really thriving,” said CSP club development officer Peter Boast.

“I would say perhaps two thirds of the members are girls and that is mirroring the national trend for girls taking up the sport which is great to see.

“We have training sessions on Saturdays and on Monday nights and they are really well attended.

“We have plenty of interest and hopefully we can continue to produce good results.”

After the club’s fine showing in the north west, CSP coach Len Woofindin and chairman Neil Welsh paid tribute to the girls’ results.

In a joint statement the pair said: “We are delighted for Georgia and it is very well deserved after a lot of hard work and dedication to her cycling.

“Georgia has been riding with the team for over six years and continues to wave the flag for Cycle Sport Pendle and Pendle’s young cyclists.

“Congratulations to other members of the CSP team for their results on the day too.”

For Georgia herself, there was huge pride in her strong performance in what was a hugely talented field.

And the teenager revealed she was delighted to be honoured with her trophy as well as with her rider overall.

She said: “It’s an honour to be representing CSP and young riders in the North West and to be recognised for it too is fantastic.

“I train at any opportunity I can get, after school and at weekends, so I’m pleased that it’s paying off.”

Cycle Sport Pendle supports young riders at all levels of expertise from the age of seven upwards in a variety of cycling disciplines. Anyone interested in joining can find more information at www.cyclesportpendle.org.uk.

The club was formed in 2008 and aims to introduce young riders, boys and girls, of mixed ages and abilities to cycling.

CSP gained the Sport England Club Mark Accreditation in 2011, and is now a Go-Ride Accredited club.

In 2014 a new floodlit cycling facility - the Steven Burke Sports Hub - was formally opened by Olympic champion Steven Burke and is now the home of CSP