SOMERSET Sharp Rebels' youth development manager Ray Dickson has announced the names of the riders who will comprise the club's Giants' team in the newly-formed British Academy League.

During discussions with new co-promoter Mike Golding at a recent meeting, it was decided to run an Academy League team in the second half of the main meetings so that young, up-and-coming British riders could gain experience.

The rules state that a team can use a Premier-League reserve, as long as he is under 21 and with an average under four points. This ruled out Rebels' new reserve pairing of Jordan Frampton and Danny Warwick due to age, explained Dickson.

He went on: "Therefore, we have lined up Andy Braithwaite, who became a Somerset asset in 2006, Matt Bates, a regular second-half rider at the Oak Tree Arena, and Jamie Pickard to form the main part of the team.

"In Pickard's case, as we are loaning him out to Conference-League Plymouth and they also ride on a Friday night, he may well compete only in away fixtures for the Giants, but he has good potential."

Also in the frame come June, when he becomes a 15-year-old, will be Brendan Johnson, who rode extremely well in the under-15 meeting at Somerset in last year, although with BSPA moves to allow under-15s to ride, he may get his chance sooner than originally anticipated.

Dickson added: "There are other riders in the frame, who will have to fight hard to gain a team place."

Sixteen teams have declared their intention to enter the Academy League and it will be broke down into regions. "We anticipate being in the southern section with maybe Poole, Eastbourne, Swindon, Reading, Oxford or Wolverhampton, but are awaiting the controlling body's announcement," said Dickson.

Talon are already on board with sponsorship for the Giants and Kevin Brown, proprietor of The Metal Workshop, has said that he will assist with fuel or oil for the team. "If there are any other sponsors who would like to help the youngsters with the costs by way of sponsorship, they would be more than welcome," said Dickson.

Originally, Dickson had planned to run a junior Giants' team back in 2002, when the Rebels first stepped up to the Premier League, but, due to planning restrictions, it never materialised. The name of the team arises from local folklore around Brent Knoll, the Iron-Age hillfort that overlooks the Oak Tree Arena. Legend has it that three giants roamed the Knoll and were slain by one of King Arthur's knights.