JUNIOR rider Jessica Varnish got her first taste of international action over the weekend, when she was part of a Great Britain squad that returned with an impressive haul of medals from the Austrian International.Wheely good time: Jessica Varnish, aged 15, competed at the Vienna International.

Varnish, who lives on Finstall Road, was the youngest rider in a squad that returned from Austria with a large haul of medals.

Varnish also set a new personal best of 12.682 seconds in the 200 metres time trial.

The 15-year-old was unlucky not to make it to the semi-finals of the women's sprint when she finished fifth after her feet were knocked out of her pedals in the quarter-finals.

The gifted junior was given special dispensation for riding in both sprint and endurances races.

She helped Britain team mate Katie Curtis come second in the scratch race, while she finished in a chasing bunch.

In a gruelling weekend of international action Varnish also came fourth in the 500m.

Father James Varnish said: "It's been a wonderful learning experience for Jess.

"She's been up against some of the best young riders in the world and matched them.

"Being part of the British squad has been a big boost for her. We have the strongest set up around and the juniors coming through are very gifted.

"It also gave Jess an idea of the scale of these events. The organisation and planning was very thorough."

Varnish races in the next round of the Revolution series at Manchester Velodrome this weekend.

The Finstall rider is currently in fourth place.

She has also sealed a deal to use Bromsgrove's David Lloyd gym to help keep her fit and exercise.