OFF-road biker Harry Eccles is aiming to hit the national stage if he can seal the Wirral Off-Road clubman title within the next month.

The 18-year-old Brandlesholme lad thought he had done enough to win the WOR championship with two wins, two runners-up slots, and although he did not finish one event because of a puncture, he is 18 points clear at the top of the leaderboard.

But organisers of the event have now increased the number of rounds from six to eight.

Eccles is away on holiday for one of the forthcoming sixth round, but he is hoping to nail the championship on his return.

Meanwhile, the youngster has also been doing well in the non-WOR championship endurance events, with three wins and third and fifth-placed finishes in the demanding Hare and Hounds series.

In the long term, the former Wodhey High School pupil has set his sights on securing enough sponsorship to enter the British championship next year. That would put extra demands on him, with costs of competing mounting up towards £10,000 and he may need a spare motor bike.

“Competing is an amazing buzz,” said Eccles. “The feeling you get from racing off road is difficult to put into words. But I definitely want to step up to the British championship. It’s a question of getting the right resources to do it.”

Anyone interested in helping with sponsorship should contact Harry’s dad, Andy Eccles, on 07572 526603.