BROMSGROVE Olym-pique's young riders were made to sweat during a gruelling August campaign, starring in meetings both at home and abroad.

The first week saw them join an eight-strong West Midlands team riding the three-day Youth International in Killorglin, County Kerry.

Gavin Ballantyne was the youngest team member on show in the category three event and he rode exceptionally well in his first long distance road races to take a top ten place overall.

Ross Dingley, Alex and Francine Billington rode the category two event for U14s, Francine able to ride an age category lower.

Alex had a storming race, taking a third and fourth place in road race stages and ninth overall while Ross and Francine also rode well to finish in the top 20, both finding the hills of Kerry hard work.

Their team finished third out of nine.

They were above the Great Britain team and were only beaten by the Irish national squad and the strong local team.

Alex Billington only had a few hours at home before making the long trip to Liege, in Belgium, where he rode in the Euro 2000 Cup for all nations competing in the football tournament.

This time competing for the Great Britain team, he finished in the top half of the field against the strongest cycling nations in the world.

The same weekend, sisters Francine and Genevieve rode in the BCF National Circuit races, in Cardiff, with Genny taking the bronze in the U10 girls.

Francine had to ride in increasingly heavy rain on the slippery brick paved roads, slumping to an unusual ninth place.

Just 12 hours after Alex returned from Belgium, he was on the start line for the Manchester International Youth Tour, riding against strong Scandinavian teams and finishing ninth overall. Francine finished ninth in the youth ladies' group.

Meanwhile, Gavin Ballantyne benefited from the Irish event, winning two races - a track race at Halesowen and a circuit race at Curborough, Lichfield.

The Bank Holiday weekend saw the Billingtons ride in the BSCA National Circuit Race Championships, in Portsmouth, with Francine again fighting heavy rain on a windswept airfield to take her 17th National Championship. Genevieve and Alex both finished fifth in their races.

The next day they were in action again at the BSCA Regional Championships, in Lichfield.

Alex won the U14s in fine style, beating the U16s winner in the same event, with Will Goulbourne taking third place.

Ross Dingley was second in the U12s, with Gavin third. Francine won the U16s girls. Natalie Ballantyne and Genevieve also finished in the prizes in the U10 girls' event.

The cyclo cross season starts this month, with Olympique hoping for at least 20 riders in the first event at Solihull on September 24, including new riders Trudie Dingley and Sam Coxhead joining Kate Salmon in the ladies' category.