Three riders from youth-oriented cycle club Team Darenth have won the South East's winter-long league of 13 cyclocross races.

Competing with more than 140 young riders across the region from Brighton and Lancing up to east London and from Hillingdon across to Dover, local youth talent based in Wilmington has come out on top.

Joshua Parkin won nine races in the under-10 league, as did Hugo Humphreys in the under- 12 class.

Samantha Bryant was top girl in the under-14s and also finished a creditable fifth overall in her age group.

Many other riders from Team Darenth placed highly, including Brett Jackelman who was second only to the national under-14 champion from Deal.

Tarryn Jarvis, riding in junior women's category with the adult racers for the first time this year, finished in second place and has made the development squad.

Cyclocross is a winter cycle sport that relates to road racing in the same way that cross-country running does to track athletics.

Riders even have to deal with hurdles, so bike-handling is of equal importance to fitness for the demands of racing that can last up to 40 minutes. Racing can be wet, muddy and cold.

This is fine, since Team Darenth excel at the off-road disciplines of cycle sport. The club has numerous champions in MTB cross-country and cyclocross.

One of the club's coaches commented: "It truly has been a marvellous season for our cyclo-crossers.

"We'll have to see how we get on at the team event this Sunday. Then we're hoping for more good results when we host the National Schools' Cyclocross Championships at Axton Chase in Longfield on Sunday week. Riders really are coming from all over the country for this one."

In the meantime, the mountain-biking season starts across the south of England, when the road-racing season opens soon too.

Team Darenth is organising the opening round of the National Youth Circuit Series in east London, with sponsorship from London 2012. This is a major race of national importance and Team Darenth riders will not be short on preparation.

Team Darenth achieved an honourable mention in the House of Commons last week as Dr Howard Stoate MP, its president, cited the club's successful record in animating events and activities for local youth to become involved in sport.

Anyone who enjoys riding their bike is invited to bring it and a helmet along to Wilmington Hall School any Saturday from 10am and noon.

Open sessions with the emphasis on fun are a great attraction for young riders aged seven and upwards. With British Cycling and Sport England recognition for its coaching, it is good to have a club of national standing in the area.

Team Darenth is organising the Southern XC cross-country mountain bike series, opening round on April 10 at Deer's Leap in East Grinstead.

Its popular season of entry-level road racing for young riders will run again in Central Park, Dartford, this May and June with the aim of finding more youth talent to follow the national champions already identified from a start on this circuit.

The club is currently engaged in negotiations with a number of organisations to secure a permanent base and full-time cycling facility.

This will have a wide appeal, since cycling is the country's most popular adult leisure sport activity in parks and the most popular sport with children in years 2-11.

Central funding seems assured and the club has identified venues over which it is holding discussions and 2005 will be another important year for the club's growth.

To read more about Team Darenth, log on to: www.teamdarenthuk.homestead.com