Press Office

2006 National 1 & 2 - Burnham / Cheddar 1st May 2006  

Last weekend the Royston Rockets BMX Racing Club were competing in the first two rounds of the National BMX Summer Series which were held at two tracks in the south west – on Sunday round 1 of the series was held at Burnham on Sea whilst Monday saw the racing move to the international standard track at Cheddar where this years European Championships will be held in July.  The weather was cold but the threat of rain receded to leave near ideal conditions in which to race. Over 400 riders from around the country and a few from Holland took part and the good condition of both of the tracks made for some very competitive racing. 

The Rockets had riders in many of the classes with the clubs youngest rider at the event, Daniel Blanche, competing in the 6 and Under class where he finished in 6^th on both days whilst in the 7 year class “B” Final, Bradan Blanche finished in 5^th on day 1 and improved to 4^th for the second round and Ethan Lewis took 6^th place in the 8yr class for the first round and 7^th for the second. Royston’s three riders in the 10 yr class had varying success with Zach Stevens taking 2^nd in the “A” finals on both days, James Handleigh made the main “A” final on Sunday where he finished in 8^th and on Monday he took 4^th in the “B” final whilst the third team mate, Louis Burton, took 8^th on both days in the class “B” Final. Moving up to the 11-12 year group both Rockets, Aston Blanche and Ben Gutteridge just failed to qualify for the finals with the same fate befalling Antony Taylor and Wayne Gutteridge in the 13-14 class. The Rockets only female rider at the events, Katie Roberts, took 6^th and then 5^th in the Junior Female class whilst her brother Jonathan made and excellent start to his years racing with a win in the Junior Male class on Sunday followed by an “A” final 6^th on Monday. The “Masters” class saw Royston’s Lee Alexander taking 2^nd in the “B” Final on the first day but found the Cheddar track to his liking on Monday as he took 6^th in the “A” final. In the Cruiser 16-29 class Danny Bateman also found the second venue more to his style with a second in the “B” final at Burnham followed by 7^th in the “A” final at Cheddar. The Rockets two Elite Class riders also had varying success with Richard Townsend just failing to qualify for the semi finals on both days and Laurence Mapp justifying his national squad position with 4^th in Sundays “A” final followed by a podium 3^rd place on Monday.

 The clubs own regular Tuesday night sessions at the clubs track in Burns Road, Royston have now started and on Saturday May 6^th the club is holding a “Come and Try” BMX racing session starting at 2pm where anyone with a BMX or MTB bike can try the track and watch – or even take part- in some races. Full details of this and other 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.