Two Essex BMX race aces are on the right track for Olympic glory after British Cycling named its Team GB squad for the next 12 months.

Bethany Shriever, who started as a rider for Braintree Bullets BMX Club and now rides for TNT BMX Club, and Ryan Hutchinson, who is a current Bullets rider, have both been included in a group of six in British Cycling’s Olympic Development Programme.

The select half-dozen are riders identified by Britain’s top cycle coaches as potential Olympic stars of the future and puts them on a pathway to take their natural talents to the highest levels.

Shriever has been on the British Cycling Talent programme for the last two years as the 2013 European champion and former World Championship silver medallist. But she admitted that being named in the Olympic Development list had come as a relief after injuries saw her miss most of the 2014 season.

The 15-year-old from Finchingfield near Braintree, said: “I had a double break after I fell off while practising in Manchester and had some pins put into my leg.

“Three months later, I was told my leg had healed and I went training, but it broke again without me even doing anything like jumping or falling on it and I ended up having a plate put in.

“It’s meant that I’ve done nothing this year competitively whatsoever so this Olympic Development programme place is just so great.

“I did have some fears that I wouldn’t be on the programme as there are a few girls who have improved while I’ve been unable to ride.

“So when they said I was on it, I was really happy.

“It gives me a huge inspiration to train hard and come back next season.”

Braintree Bullets star, Hutchinson, has earned his elevation to the Olympic Development programme after becoming British champion in the 16-year boys’ category in only his second season of racing on the national stage.

Bullets coach Julian Allen was understandably delighted and said it was a great reward for Hutchinson’s hard work.

“Its great for Ryan that he has gone so far in the sport in such a short time,” said Allen.

“He was obviously a great athlete from when I first saw him ride and with all his hard work, he has reaped the rewards.”