Haworth’s Jack Carthy has won a gold medal in the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships in South Africa.

After claiming silver last year in Austria, the 17-year-old went one better by winning the junior 26 inch-wheel trials crown.

Carthy was best in qualifying, only dropping five penalty points throughout the three laps, and went into the evening’s finals as the clear favourite.

Come the finals and the British junior excelled, dropping just one point over the two laps to claim the world title in convincing style ahead of Nils Obed Riecker, of Germany, and Jeremy Descloux, of France.

Following his win in Pietermaritzburg, the former Oakbank School pupil said: “I have been working so hard this year for this and it’s pretty unreal that I managed to win so well.

“I compete in the elite division for the World Cups, which has given me a little bit of experience but here I have to compete in my age group and I am just really glad I won.

"The course was really difficult but I guess I just had a really good ride.”

In bike trials, riders must show balance and skill in tackling a series of obstacles while keeping their feet off the ground.