Maple Hayes Student Races Ahead in Cyclocross and Mountain Biking Success

A pupil from Maple Hayes Hall Dyslexia School in Lichfield is racing ahead to biking success and carving out a formidable reputation in the world of competitive cycling.

Despite grappling with dyslexia and dysgraphia, 14 year old Arthur Oliver’s skills on the bike have propelled him to remarkable achievements, showcasing his determination and talent in the face of adversity.

Since joining Maple Hayes Dyslexia School in September 2020 at the age of 10 and with a reading age of six, Arthur's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Overcoming the hurdles posed by his learning difficulties, Arthur has not only excelled academically but has also carved a niche for himself in the fiercely competitive world of cycling.

Arthur's prowess in cycling was on full display this February, when he clinched a 3rd place podium position in the Youth category (Under 16) at the Winter Classic XC race held at Cannock Chase. Just a week later, he further solidified his reputation by securing 7th place in the same category at Round 1 of the Welsh XC Series in Builth Wells, then another 7th place at Round 1 of the Crank It MTB Series at Sherwood Pines, and 1st place in the Crank It Stage Race.  

Also in February, Arthur was awarded a trophy for coming 3rd in the West Midlands Cyclocross League, which was a remarkable achievement since he was a first year under 16, and had missed several rounds of the league due to clashes with the National Trophy Series. In the Regional Championship cyclocross race at Aldersley Stadium in Wolverhampton Arthur was on the podium once again with 3rd place.

Remarkably, Arthur competes against older boys up to 18-months older than himself, demonstrating his tenacity and skill on the track.

From mastering bike tricks at the tender age of five to venturing into competitive racing at the age of eight, Arthur's journey in cycling has been marked by exceptional talent and determination. His dedication to the sport is evident in his rigorous training regime, which sees him devote 10 to 12 hours per week building fitness and power, and honing his skills.

Arthur is a member of Lichfield City Cycling Club, and Matlock Cycling Club. Talent has also been recognised by Team GBR, earning him a spot in their regional school of racing for both cyclocross and cross-country mountain biking. He is also supported financially by The Trailhead Bicycle Company in Shrewsbury, and Ballard Engineering in Lichfield.

His father, Chris Oliver said: “Arthur's journey is an inspiration to us all. Despite facing challenges, he continues to push the boundaries and excel in his passion for cycling, and we are just so proud of him and know he will go far in this sport in the future.

“Arthur has ridden bikes regularly since he was very young, and his stabilisers were removed when he was three years old. By the age of five, Arthur was doing jumps on his bike, and various other tricks, as he began to develop his talent. He then began racing when he was eight years old,” he said.

He added that the Lichfield-based school had been very supportive of his sporting achievements, and also helped him improve his academic skills dramatically since starting there.

“His reading and writing improved significantly and after only one term we confused his handwriting with that of his older sister’s (his older sister also being at the same school, but a very neat writer). Prior to Maple Hayes his handwriting was illegible, so it’s testament to their unique teaching methods and his hard work,” he said.

Dr Daryl Brown, Co-Principal at Maple Hayes Dyslexia School, added: "We are immensely proud of Arthur and his outstanding achievements in the world of cycling. His dedication and skill are a testament to his character, and we look forward to witnessing his continued success."

Maple Hayes teaches a system called the ‘morphological approach’, which uses a series of icons to make a visual link between meaning and spelling instead of pupils being taught using phonics.

For more details about the school, visit this link