Cotswold teenager off to speedy start (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cotswold teenager off to speedy start

SOUTHROP'S Shane Waldron has become a professional speedway rider at the age of 16, having already broken records by becoming the sport's youngest ever international competitor.

He now rides full time for Kings Lynn Money Centre Stars.

Shane, a Southrop area-resident all his life, has a sporting family: his father, Nick Waldron, did boxing and judo after his grandfather, Bob Waldron, played football for Fairford Town.

Shane also tried boxing but speedway has been his sport since the age of 10 when speedway fan Bob took him to see Swindon Robins.

He was aged 11 when Bob bought him a 125cc-speedway bike.

Within four months, Shane started racing it at Swindon's stadium under training officer Peter Oakes' supervision.

He swapped it for a 500cc-machine two months later.

Shane has won many medals and trophies in his four and a half years of competing.

Selected for Britain's under-21 team three days after becoming 15, he became the youngest ever international rider.

Unbeaten on his international debut, Shane also represented Britain's under-16 and under-18 teams before his 16th birthday.

In 2004, he was second in the first British under-15s championship.

Shane now trains at the British Speedway Academy run by Peter Oakes, Britain's under-21s manager.

Nick is Shane's mechanic and Denmark's Brian Andersen, who services world championship bikes, tunes it.

Last year, Shane experienced speedway's downside when a racing accident saw him break his arm in two places, wrench his shoulder from its socket and shatter the ball on his shoulder, causing nerve damage and paralysis to his left arm.

He regained fitness at Swindon Orbital Shopping Centre's JJB fitness centre.

With racing taking him across Britain two or times weekly, Shane covers around 30,000 miles annually.

This means the ex-Southrop Primary and Fairford's Farmors School-pupil must now be educated at home.

Nick said: "I'm very proud. It's his style and determination that makes him special."

Shane added: "I want to be the best. There's always a bit of scariness but it drives you on, gives you an adrenaline rush."

Shane appealed for sponsorship.

Anyone interested can email theshalesurfer@southroprt.freeserve.co.uk or telephone 07766 774509 / 01367 850043.