Roch Valley Raiders Go Ride Racing Series

Charlie Sharpe Rider of the Day with his trophy presented by Councillor Colin Lambert
Roch Valley Raiders Go Ride Racing Series

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Sunshine welcomed 28 BMX riders to Heywood for round six of the Roch Valley Raiders Go Ride Racing Series for 2013 this weekend.

The track surface was dry and loose due to the recent hot weather, which meant that racing was exciting and fast paced.

Racing consisted of five age classes of three motos (heats). Riders are ranked based on their finishing positions in each of the three motos.

Aged seven and under provided the biggest field for the beginners, and it was guest rider Christopher Atkinson who came out on top, with Oliver Stansfield and Liam Doyle completing the top three.

Guest rider Billy Smethurst from Mid Lancs BMX Club (Chorley) crashed in the first two out of three motos but showed great resilience and carried on coming fourth overall in the age eight riders.

Charlie Sharpe, the only four-year-old to enter the race, was given the choice of which category he would prefer to race. He chose to race with the nine-year-old girls and was awarded the Rider of the Day trophy, presented by Councillor Colin Lambert.

Every rider at the end of racing was presented with a certificate from club chairman Craig Stansfield and a medal from Helen Charnley, representing Dirtworks BMX.

A spokesperson explained: "Dirtworks BMX is a rider-run company specialising in design and build of BMX tracks and is the company that designed the rebuild of the Heywood track in 2009 and help the club with the maintenance of the track, ensuring that it is fast flowing, exciting and safe."

The racing was watched by over 60 family and friends of the riders competing.

The racing event was run by the volunteers and adult riders from Roch Valley Raiders BMX club.

The spokesperson added: "Councillor Colin Lambert was invited to the race to present a trophy to the Rider of the Day. He gave a speech offering his support in helping the club raise funds which will be used to tarmac the berms. Tarmac berms will ensure that the BMX track is fit to ride all year round and also reduces the amount of maintenance the track will need."

The club's expert riders are now training hard in preparation for the British BMX Championships, which will be held in Perry Park, Birmingham on 23-25 August. The club has 22 riders who will be competing at the event representing Heywood and the North BMX region.