Halesowen A&CC’s Academy have announced a strengthened under-23 squad and an expanded junior intake for 2026, outlining a wider restructure following what the team describes as a highly productive 2025 season, according to a press release issued this week.
Two riders move up from the junior squad to the under-23 ranks: first-category rider Ben Arey and Ben Freeman. They join a returning group that includes Luke Mannings and Harry Howlett, both of whom won road races in 2025. The Academy expects this core to feature prominently in National B events and the Under-23 National Road Series next season.
Five first-year juniors are also added to the programme, joining Joe Egan and Mikey Ratcliffe, who both won races last year, secured second-category licences and produced strong rides in Belgian kermesse events. Their arrival follows a season in which Academy riders claimed victories in Belgium and Ireland, 10 of the squad’s 15 riders won at least once, and multiple U16 and junior national track medals were secured. Two riders – Ryan Oldfield and Rose Lewis – were also invited into the Great Britain Olympic Development system.
Several riders depart the Academy for 2026. Piers Mahn, second overall in the Totnes Vire stage race in 2025, is expected to move to a UK elite development team. Isaak Herbert joins the Velo Schils race team after strong performances in France, while Lewis moves to CAMS majaco following a season that included victory on the Isle of Man and a national madison title. Oldfield’s destination is yet to be confirmed.
Team manager William Fotheringham said the team had made “solid progress on pretty much every front,” highlighting performances at Ràs Mumhan, the national madison championships and the Tour of the Marches. He added that the number of riders moving up a category reflected the Academy’s long-term development aims.
The Academy also underscored its increasing organisational role in the domestic calendar. “We are also particularly proud of the contribution we’ve made to the national and West Midlands calendars this season, organising a round of the national under-23 series and putting on another six days of road racing besides,” Fotheringham says. “That’s thanks to parents being prepared to put in the hard yards to ensure that the races are there for their offspring and strong support from the West Mids region board.”
Next season’s programme will continue to centre on the under-23 squad’s participation in Ràs Mumhan and the Junior Tour of Ireland for the junior squad, alongside racing trips to France and Belgium and a stated intention to strengthen the team’s presence in the National A series. With backing from Halesowen A&CC, the Academy will again run the Tour of the Marches three-day and other regional events.
Six under-16 riders will join the Academy in spring, bringing the total squad size to 20. The team also confirmed continued support from sponsors including Mapei, Nicofe Materials, Secret Training, Fleur au Soleil and ProVision.
Under-23 squad: Ben Arey, Dan Ascroft, Ben Freeman, Luke Harris, Kaleb Herbert, Harry Howlett, Luke Mannings. Moving on: Isaak Herbert (Velo Schils), Piers Mahn (to be announced).
Juniors squad: Retained: Joe Egan, Mikey Ratcliffe. Incoming: Malakhi Bailey (from U16), Xander Brandon-Higgs (Hafren), Wilfred Franklin (Ludlow), Ben Harrington (Clifton), James Saunders (Shibden). Moving on: Ryan Oldfield (to be announced), Rose Lewis (CAMS majaco)
Halesowen A&CC’s Academy have announced a strengthened under-23 squad and an expanded junior intake for 2026, outlining a wider restructure following what the team describes as a highly productive 2025 season, according to a press release issued this week.
Two riders move up from the junior squad to the under-23 ranks: first-category rider Ben Arey and Ben Freeman. They join a returning group that includes Luke Mannings and Harry Howlett, both of whom won road races in 2025. The Academy expects this core to feature prominently in National B events and the Under-23 National Road Series next season.
Five first-year juniors are also added to the programme, joining Joe Egan and Mikey Ratcliffe, who both won races last year, secured second-category licences and produced strong rides in Belgian kermesse events. Their arrival follows a season in which Academy riders claimed victories in Belgium and Ireland, 10 of the squad’s 15 riders won at least once, and multiple U16 and junior national track medals were secured. Two riders – Ryan Oldfield and Rose Lewis – were also invited into the Great Britain Olympic Development system.
Several riders depart the Academy for 2026. Piers Mahn, second overall in the Totnes Vire stage race in 2025, is expected to move to a UK elite development team. Isaak Herbert joins the Velo Schils race team after strong performances in France, while Lewis moves to CAMS majaco following a season that included victory on the Isle of Man and a national madison title. Oldfield’s destination is yet to be confirmed.
Team manager William Fotheringham said the team had made “solid progress on pretty much every front,” highlighting performances at Ràs Mumhan, the national madison championships and the Tour of the Marches. He added that the number of riders moving up a category reflected the Academy’s long-term development aims.
The Academy also underscored its increasing organisational role in the domestic calendar. “We are also particularly proud of the contribution we’ve made to the national and West Midlands calendars this season, organising a round of the national under-23 series and putting on another six days of road racing besides,” Fotheringham says. “That’s thanks to parents being prepared to put in the hard yards to ensure that the races are there for their offspring and strong support from the West Mids region board.”
Next season’s programme will continue to centre on the under-23 squad’s participation in Ràs Mumhan and the Junior Tour of Ireland for the junior squad, alongside racing trips to France and Belgium and a stated intention to strengthen the team’s presence in the National A series. With backing from Halesowen A&CC, the Academy will again run the Tour of the Marches three-day and other regional events.
Six under-16 riders will join the Academy in spring, bringing the total squad size to 20. The team also confirmed continued support from sponsors including Mapei, Nicofe Materials, Secret Training, Fleur au Soleil and ProVision.
Under-23 squad: Ben Arey, Dan Ascroft, Ben Freeman, Luke Harris, Kaleb Herbert, Harry Howlett, Luke Mannings. Moving on: Isaak Herbert (Velo Schils), Piers Mahn (to be announced).
Juniors squad: Retained: Joe Egan, Mikey Ratcliffe. Incoming: Malakhi Bailey (from U16), Xander Brandon-Higgs (Hafren), Wilfred Franklin (Ludlow), Ben Harrington (Clifton), James Saunders (Shibden). Moving on: Ryan Oldfield (to be announced), Rose Lewis (CAMS majaco)
Read our domestic team guide here.
Featured image: Chris Godfrey
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.