AN Astley cycle speedway rider has established himself as one of the best in his age group in the UK.

Tom Whitwam was the youngest rider at Edinburgh on Saturday in the British Individual under 13s final, with the 10-year-old eventually finishing in seventh place.

The St Ambrose Primary School pupil was the only competitor to trouble the eventual champion, Edinburgh's Kieran Swanson, making a pass and leading the race only to be pipped on the line by half-a-tyre’s width.

Whitwam was the second-placed rider from the Northern region.

It completed a busy week for the yougnster, who on Wednesday was racing in the Manchester League under 13s at Bury.

Whitwam entered the event in joint first position but a great night’s racing saw him take four wins as the only unbeaten rider, enough to put Whitwam in the lead with one final round remaining at Stockport.

A day earlier he was in action at Newcastle for the Northern under 13s and under 16s individual finals.

In the under 13s event, Whitwam had a bad crash which saw him drop from first place, eventually going to finish individual runner-up.

In the under 16s final, the 10-year-old took a credible 10 points from four races.