PRESS RELEASE

 The Royston Rockets BMX Racing Club were hosts last Sunday for the final event of the East Anglia BMX Racing Summer calendar when they attracted almost 140 riders to the East Anglian Open Championships. The event included riders from across the region and the recent rains helped hold the race surface together and this, combined by regular sweeping by the club members produced fast and competitive racing on the track in Burns Road which is one of the most unusual track in the country with it’s combination of left and right turns and technical sections.

 The Rockets had 20 riders registered for the event with the youngest riders were in the 6 and Under class where Kieran Archer took 4th in the B final just behind team mate Daniel Blanche who took the B Final win whilst in the A final with Bradan Blanche taking 7th and Aaron Dallywater taking an excellent 4th. In the 7-8 year class Ethan Lewis took a fine 4th place in the A final and Oliver Hall finished in 6th in the class B final. The 9-10 Male class, no less than five Royston members were competing, with Zach Stevens leading the pack from the line but sliding out mid race to end up in a dusrty 8th in the A final whilst James Handleigh took 2nd ahead of Louis Burton finishing in 5th just ahead of Kyle Gutteridge in 6th and team mate Aston Blanche in only his third major event taking 3rd in the B Final. The next class on the track was the 11-12 year males where Anthony Taylor took a well-deserved 4th in the A final Ben Gutteridge in 8th and in the 13-14 year class Wayne Gutteridge took a fine 2nd.  The final 20” wheeled class on the track was the “Masterclass” category where Laurence Mapp took 1st in the A final with Richard Townsend coming back to form in 4th and in the class B Final Jonathan Roberts took a good win whilst in his first race for some time Sam Skinner took 6th. Representing the girls was Katie Roberts who took 2nd in the 13+ class and in the Cruiser classes Lee Alexander took 2nd in the 30-39year category and also took one of the “Riders of the Day” awards.

 In the Club Championship element of the event the Royston Rockets finished in 3rd and in the final event of the regional year, the now infamous BMX Relay, sponsored by Royston’s VB Trophies, the Rockets entered two teams of seven riders and both made it through to the qualifying stages to take their positions in the main final.

 This final national event of the summer is the British Championships over the weekend of September 24-25th and the Royston Rockets have no less than 17 riders who are eligible to take part.

 The Royston club’s practice evenings are now finished due to darkness but once the Regional winter series dates are set the club will be publishing winter practice sessions.. Further details of forthcoming club and regional events are published on the club web site at www.roystonrockets.co.uk, or ring 01763 260959 for more information on BMX racing.