KENT cyclist Jamie Staff has clinched the gold medal in the World Championships in the Keirin event in Melbourne.

Staff, currently one of the stars of the Great Britain cycling team and a real medal hope in this year’s Athens Olympics, has made a real impact since coming back to track cycling after being a world BMX champion and professional in the USA.

But Staff, from Brabourne, near Ashford, has never forgotten his roots and regularly calls in to share his triumphs with members of Ashford Wheelers. He is the club's president.

Staff, who recently turned 31, had been considering retirement after the Olympics but his World Championship success could persuade him to press on.

Staff, who lives most of the time in the USA, dedicated his latest win to his wife. He said: “I woke her up in the middle of the night but she was ecstatic. Something has come out of this time apart,” he said.

Staff picked up a wild card for Britain into the Keirin and started with a win in his opening heat and third in the next round showing tremendous speed and much better tactical awareness.

He also won a bronze medal in the team sprint event with Craig McLean, Jason Qually and Chris Hoy. The team have already qualified for Athens.