A TEENAGER from Headington will take to the airwaves after winning a reporting award.

Sixth former Tim McGovern was told just five minutes before appearing live on BBC Radio Oxford that he had won the station’s Young Sports Reporter award.

A 60-second radio report on British cycling won him the honour and the chance to report on a county sports tournament.

He said: “Winning came as a real surprise. I only found out when Radio Oxford phoned me about five minutes before they wanted me to go on air to talk about it.

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"There were some very talented entries so it was a great feeling to have been selected.”

The competition was open to anyone at secondary school in the county – there were four winners in the Year 7 to 10 category. Tim was one of three to win in the Year 11 to Year 13 section. The BBC did not release the names of the other winners. The winners of the two categories will spend a day with BBC broadcasters Rob Nothman, Robyn Cowen and Jerome Sale.

They will also get the chance to report and commentate on the Oxfordshire Schools Games this year.

Mr McGovern’s winning entry covered track cycling and was called “What’s gone wrong with British Cycling?”

The Abingdon School student wants to forge a career in sports journalism and hoped his prize would help him achieve his goal.

The 18-year-old said: “I really enjoy watching, taking part in and talking about football and cycling.

“To get the chance to meet and learn from people who report and broadcast about these sports is a fantastic opportunity and will be invaluable in helping me develop as a journalist.”

Tim also has just been offered a place at Loughborough University to study drama and film.

BBC Oxford presenter Jerome Sale said: “As one of the judges, I was really taken aback by the standard of the entries. Winning entries like Tim’s had to fight off serious competition.

“The breadth of knowledge and confidence in the reporting was encouraging – and if I’m honest a little concerning – we now have to look over our shoulder as the next generation are after our jobs.”

The Oxfordshire School Games has two festivals this year in April and in July.

The School Games spring festival takes place Thursday and Friday, April 16-17, at venues in Abingdon including Tilsley Park and neighbouring White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre.