Bradford mountain biker Billy Harding has immediately set his sights on clinching Sainsbury’s UK School Games gold in September after receiving a master class from Great Britain’s world silver medallist Annie Last.

Harding, who attends Birkenshaw Middle School, still needs to qualify for the multi-sport event, which will see more than 1,600 athletes descend on Sheffield, but his form in the national series this year suggests that is a mere formality.

Mountain biking is making its debut at the UK School Games this year and, as a result, Last – who will look to upgrade world under-23 silver to gold in August – was on hand to put GB’s budding future Olympians through their paces in the Steel City.

Last gave a handful of British youngsters some technical pointers and a few words of wisdom and Harding believes the trip to Wharncliffe and Wheata Woods was just the boost he needs to succeed in Sheffield.

“It’s been fantastic to come here to the venue that will host the UK School Games competition and get some tips from some of the top British Cycling coaches,” he said.

“I’ve been having a good season in the national series so far and after doing this, hopefully that will continue.

“Getting to speak to someone like Annie Last was also great. She’s one of the best in the country at the moment and all things going well I can go on and do well at the UK School Games.”

London 2012 hopeful Last is riding the crest of a wave at present, having recently chalked up her best-ever World Cup finish of 14th in Dalby Forest.

She believes that the chance to compete at the UK School Games – which this year will showcase 12 different sports – will hand the likes of Harding a significant advantage in their pursuit of future Olympic success.

“Giving young people like Billy the chance to compete in a multi-sport event like the Sainsbury’s UK School Games gives them a real head-start in knowing what it’s like to compete at the very highest level,” said Last.

“I hope that by passing on my advice to these youngsters they can work and train hard, perfect their technique and go on to future success in the sport.”

* To find out more about this year’s Sainsbury’s UK School Games, visit www.ukschoolgames.com.