By John Walsh

Published at 11:32, Wednesday, 02 April 2008

WORKINGTON Comets will again be running an Academy team at Derwent Park next season under the banner of Northside Stars.

The Stars made their bow in the Academy last year and new owner Keith Denham is keen to encourage and nurture the young talent in the area.

There were a few teething problems with the launch of the Academy competition in 2007 but these should have been overcome second time round.

“It is vital that we encourage the young talent, especially the locals from our own county. I want to see young lads from Parton, Maryport, Carlisle, Penrith and Barrow – anywhere in Cumbria.

“If they show the potential at the Northside training track they will eventually get track experience at Derwent Park for the Stars. We will also be giving them the opportunity of second-half rides. We have a 16-year-old in the Comets team this season in Joe Haines. He did a lot of early training at Northside and I would like to think we can find someone like him every year.

“There is a boy from Manchester, Jason Garrity who is only 13 and he is going to be an exciting prospect. He’s got a lot of bottle for a youngster and with the right sort of coaching and encouragement he can be a bit special.

“We saw him in action last year at Northside in the British Under-15’s championship and although he didn’t get a podium place looked very exciting.

“We are inviting him up during the season to get some practice around Derwent Park and he will be training at Northside as well.

“If we can find a few Jason Garrity’s in west Cumbria or the rest of the county over the next six months or so we will be delighted,” said Denham.

Judith Lomas, a leading official at the Northside Training Track and Workington’s training officer will again be in charge of the Stars. The Academy League evolved last year from the successful Under-15’s League of the previous two seasons and was restricted to riders under the age of 21 who are also eligible to race in the Conference League.

Riders can take part in the competition once they have celebrated their 14th birthday and have passed a strict track test.

Last year, at the launch, Comets team manager Ian Thomas expressed concerns that there might not be enough riders of 21 and under to go round the number of clubs taking part.

That proved to be the main teething problem for the three-sectioned Academy competition so this coming season the age limit will be raised to 23.

*Workington Comets fans unsure of how to obtain their season tickets for the 2008 season at Derwent Park should ring Anthony Denham on 01900 68114.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk