A TOTAL of 23 Hawks riders travelled to Derby to see out the BMX racing season in style at the 2024 British Championships.

‘The Brits’ is typically the last big race in the calendar and the British No.1 position is a coveted one.

To qualify for the British Championships, riders need to have ridden five regional races.

Hawks had five riders racing at The Brits for the first time. On the Saturday, eight-years Oliver Ford and Harley Laker made it through to the 1/8ths and quarters respectively.

Elias Rus finished 42nd in a stacked group of 61 nine-year-old boys. Alfie Ford also had a similarly competitive class of 12-year-olds, and finished 49th out of 64.

Rachel Prichard, at 10, a dancer, has followed younger brother Joel into BMX racing,

At her first Brits, she made the final and finished a very respectable British No.8.

Paul Adams, in the 50-54 age category#, proved it is never too late to take up a new sport, competed in his first Brits against men who have been racing since the 1980s.

There were a number of more experienced Hawks riders vying for the British title.

Anita Wong, also proving that age is not a barrier in competitive sport, raced in the 30+ women’s category on both cruiser and 20in, achieving a sixth and fourth respectively.

Also double biking, Tate Kitson was hoping to triumph in the 13-14 cruiser category. Having taken a joint No.1 position in the British Cycling National Series, he was going into the Brits as a favourite.

Taking three successive moto wins and a third in the semi it was all looking good for Tate, However, the final didn’t quite go his way and he finished sixth.

But, after a good night’s sleep, he raced his 20in on day two, again getting a No.6, which is Tate's best 20in result all season.

The British champion from 2023, Iris Hajda, aged 11, raced on Saturday. As the reigning British No,1 and the current national series winner, the pressure was on for Hajda to maintain her form.

She did not disappoint - and without dropping a lap all day to take her second British title.

Sunday dawned nice and clear for the 13-plus racers to take to the track.

An early off and a fractured scapula for Flynn Sanders sadly ended his race day. His brother, Austin, racing in one of the biggest age categories of the weekend, thankfully remained injury free.

Santiago Montano and Dylan Slatter battled hard in their motos and progressed to the 1/8ths, but didn’t make it through, both finishing sixth.

Zoltan Buday, at 40-plus,+ had a tough race day and battled hard against his brother in the final to take the fifth spot.

Youth coach Chay Young had a blinder of a day, highlighting how hard work and determination pays off.

At the younger end of the 17-18 category, Chay stormed though his motos to finish first in the quarters and second in the semis to make his first Brits final.

Lining up on an eight-man gate in the final, he made a slower start than he would like, but he dug deep and came from behind to achieve third place.

Cody Coker, 15, was in prime position to achieve his first ever Brits title after an amazing national season.

Cody was firm favourite in the boys 15 category and didn’t disappoint. Without dropping a lap, he became British champion for the first time.

For anyone wanting to try BMX racing, visit www.hawksbmx.co.uk