2024 UEC European Championships, Verona | Braintree Bullets

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo Navada Photography

2024 UEC European Championships, Verona | Braintree Bullets

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo Navada Photography

Braintree Bullets are celebrating more international success as Freia Challis backed up her World Championship win at the beginning of the month by bringing home the 16-year-old girls European Champions title from Verona Italy last weekend. Challis was joined by eleven other Bullets at the three-day event, that featured over 1500 riders from 24 countries across Europe.

Challis put on an amazing performance throughout the days racing. The Halstead teenager won her heat but had lost a little time on her competitors as she had a puncture mid race and was close to having a completely flat tyre. Undeterred she went into the knockout rounds and went unbeaten through the quarter and semi-finals to take her place in the final as the favourite. Off the gate in the final, Challis put a bike length into the field and increased her lead throughout the lap to take the title for the second year running. After the race she said, ‘I had many emotions through the day, but I couldn’t be happier to come away with the title. It’s an honour to wear the European Champions Jersey. Thanks to all my support team for having my back at every race.’

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On the opening day of racing, Holly Bishop made her way to 2nd in the 9 year old girls class after some fantastic on track action. Bishop had to make moves every race to put herself into qualifying positions and took her spot amongst the top qualifiers in the finals. In the final, the youngster got a fantastic start and was up with the leaders, as they went into the first corner. On the exit, Bishop had a strong position to make an inside line in the second corner and used her line to make the pass for the podium position.

Holly’s sister Poppy Bishop also made the finals on the final day of racing. Fresh from the world championship final where she finished 6th, Bishop was looking for a podium spot at the Euros in the 11-year-old girls. Bishop was giving away nearly a foot in height to the other girls and had to use her amazing track skills to work through the pack through the qualifiers. In the final, she got out the gate well and was at the sharp end of the race when she was caught from behind on the second jump and went down hard. Regrettably, she had to receive medical care, but was later released to celebrate her 7th place finish.

Also taking to the stage were Heath Thomas – 14s, Freddie Richardson, Katie Millar and Oliver Tyers – 13s, Harry Tyers and Emma Kiss -12s.

The Bullets summer race series continues every Wednesday evening at their Deanery Hill track. For more information on the club, coaching and racing please check out www.braintreebmx.com

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Freia Challis | The Era of The Slayer

Follow Freia on Instagram

Follow Julian Allen on Instagram 

Photos by Fifteen BMX | Navada Photography | Charles Robertson | Abi Taylor

Freia Challis | The Era of The Slayer

Follow Freia on Instagram

Follow Julian Allen on Instagram 

Photos by Fifteen BMX | Navada Photography | Charles Robertson | Abi Taylor

If we had to pick one, just one, out of all the extremely talented and blisteringly quick ‘Challenge’ racers out there, to set the world on fire in the years to come … one stands out in our eyes! One that just seems destined to dominate at the highest level … we’re looking at Great Britain’s Freia Challis, aka, ‘Freia the Slayer’. Easy! The three-time Challenge World Champion is already recording lap times that should make all Elite Women sit up and take notice. We’re not naïve enough to think lap times can translate between classes when the first pedal cut off exists, but Freia’s lap times on the international stage are intriguing!  When she won the last UEC European Cup round at BMX Sarrians, her lap time would not only put her in first place in Jr. Women, but U23 Women too. And Elite? Well, her time would have put her on the box … in second. In Sarrians that weekend, everyone raced off the 5m hill because of the wind … intriguing huh? Freia is still only 16 … too young to race Championship classes, but she’s taking notes, ‘I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look,’ she told us, ‘times allow you to see where you are with respect to the track, but each race scenario is very different, I still have a lot to work on both on the track developing riding skills and my strength in the gym, which will come with time as I get older. I always just want to keep enjoying all the training I do and keep developing and push myself.’

Freia first got on a bike way back in 2013, and was hooked straight away, ‘It was my older brother, Hayden, that first started going to Braintree BMX club for coaching and then started racing. I was just 5 years old then and went along to the track with my family, taking my little purple bike with me. One day I went around the track on it. Jools saw me riding and said to mum and dad that I should have a go.’ Julian Allen, or Jools, who is still her club coach at Braintree BMX, could see the potential from the beginning, ‘By the end of the first year there was something obvious about her competitiveness. She just wanted to go fast and be like the big kids’, he told us.

It wasn’t long before Freia’s aspirations moved beyond regional racing, and in 2014 she got on the Cyclopark gate at the British Championships, before ever racing a national round … she made the podium, ‘I lead the final, finishing 2nd after a mistake on the second straight. After this I believed if I put the hard work in, continued enjoying riding my bike and the process, I could keep developing and ride at a higher level.’ A year later she crashed while leading the World Championship final in Zolder, ‘I was devastated’ she remarked.

Four years later Freia returned to Zolder, the scene of the crash, for another World Championship attempt, and the whirlwind began, ‘I was over the moon to fight the demons and take my first world championship title.’ It was 2019 and Freia was 11 years old. Then Covid raised its ugly head, and the whirlwind came to a grinding halt. ‘There were no challenge class World Championships. For me it was two years of training hard, developing on the bike skills to become the best bike rider I could be. Working on weaknesses and improving each skill so I could go into the next race season the best I could be.’  It’s very possible that the two-year isolation from big races during the Covid era may just have been the catalyst for what was to follow. Despite the number 1 on her plate rolling into the French cauldron of Nantes for the ’22 UCI World Championship, no one really knew what to expect. Bar some Euro racing, the reigning World Champion was essentially an unknown, everyone was. ‘It was her first defence, so there was a little bit of pressure, but we had covered all areas and done our homework on the competition…or so we thought’ coach Jools remembered, ‘A couple of weeks earlier, Freia crashed while battling with Louise Boisson for the lead in the Euro final. Louise had slipped through the net in our homework and threw a curveball at the plans we had, but it gave us a little time to iron out some little issues and headed to the worlds confident we had it covered as long as it all panned out on the day. Freia had been firing all day in Nantes, with both the French girls Louise and Camille Brouchier looking like the top contenders. In the main, Freia showed what we had been cooking and put together an almost flawless lap. I don’t mind admitting I broke down. An instant relief and an enormous sense of achievement. She may not be mine by blood, but its close.’ Standing in the middle of the track that day in Nantes, we may just have watched Jools more than Freia during the final lap. 100% invested does not come close to describing the joy, and maybe relief, that flooded onto the track from the stands that day. ‘She’s a fantastic problem to solve and a real pleasure to work with. Always critical of her performance and constantly looking for improvement in all areas. Sometimes this can stand in the way of just enjoying the process, but she’s not one to just go through the motions for fun. Everything is geared towards winning the next race and that dream of the Olympics. As a little one, she could be a nightmare as she just wanted to jump and manual everything and skipped things like the basics of cornering, but over the years she’s learned to take time to ensure the fundamentals are on point at all times to ensure the big things become small things.’

It was Caroline Buchanan who inspired Freia when she was planning her assault on World BMX, ‘I still admire her today for what she is achieving in progressing women in sport and making a career for herself after BMX’, but now Freia has someone closer to home to look to for inspiration, ‘I have also been lucky enough to be able to ride with Beth, both when I was younger and still today, training up in Manchester and racing against her at some nationals. This has been a highlight of last year and this year racing on the track with a rider I’ve looked up to since I started in the UK national series. My first time lining up on the gate with Beth in a race was so surreal, someone I’ve looked up to for so long I finally get to race on the same track in the same race with. Emotions of being next to her on the gate is a mixture of nerves and excitement, being on the same line up to your idol. A rider like Beth, the Olympic and World Champion, being behind her in a race definitely pushes me and pushes my limits. I’ve known Beth for a while since starting at Braintree BMX Club, she has always helped and given me tips to improve a jump or a specific skill and to this day being in the pens with her, she takes time to speak to me and a day that stands out was the European Championships when she hyped me up before a race, I remember it to this day.’

When the 2023 UCI World Championships rolled around both Freia and Beth turned up ready, unfazed, and stamped their authority on the Glasgow track, taking the titles back to Braintree and Manchester. Even an early celebration over the last Glasgow jump in the final for Freia, an unclipping, and an almost crash, wasn’t enough to close the gap for the second place rider. ‘I think it was more down to getting a bit over excited before crossing the finish line,’ Freia recalled, ‘For me winning at the home Worlds was a massive achievement.’ We suspect all celebrations will be postponed until after the line in Rock Hill …

Rock Hill is indeed the goal this year! Freia and the team leave for the USA this week, aiming for the fourth title in a row. Then she goes to Verona a few weeks later to defend her UEC European title, and then she intends to wrap up the UEC European Cup series for the year, where she has yet to drop a round. All this while navigating her school GCSE exams! Clearly Freia is busier than the average 16-year-old, but it’s the potential of what’s to come that’s ultimately intriguing …

In 2025, Freia, will finally be old enough to race the Championship Class, and that’s the plan, ‘I have raced a lot of Euro Cup races the past two years to gain experience on different tracks and I’m excited for next year as I’ll be older enough to take the step into junior women and start racing off the 8-meter race hill.’ Freia has been working towards the future with Braintree BMX and British Cycling. She’s currently in her second year as part of the ‘GBCT Olympic Development Squad’ under the watchful eyes of Marcus and Kyle in Manchester, and is dialling in the 8m hill and all it’s complexities. ‘We try and get to Manchester once or twice a month through the winter,’ she told us, ‘it’s more difficult during race season as it’s such a long drive, about five hours each way, I wish we had an 8-meter hill closer. I still have a long way to go to improve my consistency and speed, especially over the first jump. It would also be good to get some experience on other 8-meter hills.’

For us the question now becomes, how long before she jumps to the Elite ranks, we already know her lap times are already comparable. There is after all, the main goal, LA 2028 and Olympic glory. ‘I have had a dream of racing at the Olympics since I was about 7 years old. I will be 20 years old in 2028 and it is a goal to try and be competing at the LA Olympics, but there is still a long way to go, and anything can happen in the next four years. We don’t currently have any plans beyond going to junior next year, I need to gain experience racing off different 8-meter hills and see how that goes as well as continue to develop as a rider and improving my strength. Each year I gain more experience and just want to continue the process …’

The era of ‘The Slayer’ is coming …

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British Cycling National Series Rounds 7&8 Manchester Indoor | Braintree Bullets

9th – 10th September

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo’s by Abi Taylor 

British Cycling National Series Rounds 7&8 Manchester Indoor | Braintree Bullets

9th – 10th September

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo’s by Abi Taylor 

Braintree Bullets BMX Club wrapped up the summer season with a fourth in the British Cycling National Series club points standings following the final rounds in Manchester last weekend. The Club had 41 entries amongst the 885 riders from across the country and saw 23 Bullets into the finals, achieving 7 class podiums, 3 class winners and saw 3 Bullets crowned national champions. The youngest Bullet to take a class win was Phoebe Millar in the 7-year-old girls’ class. Millar claimed the winningest Bullets crown too, going unbeaten in every race of the year.

In the 8-year-old girls’ class, Holly Bishop had her head down for the class win second on day two of racing which backed up her 6th on day one after she slipped her pedals fighting for position. Erin Holmes stepped into the finals on day two and rode to 8th.

Heath Thomas claimed the national champions title after taking back-to-back wins over the weekend in Manchester. Thomas had to win to take the overall and showed his composure under pressure throughout the racing. Caitlin Yeo made the girls class final and scored a 6th place finish.

In the Championship women’s category, Freia Challis had already wrapped up the national series champions title after a solid season. The 15-year-old stepped into Manchester to race the Elite track against the current Olympic Champion Bethany Shriever in the home of British Cycling. The girls raced off the 8m start hill and put on an inspirational show for the spectators, with Challis chasing down Shriever in second place all weekend.

Just off the top step of the podium was Katie Millar in the 12-year-old girls. Millar was super consistent all weekend as she powered her way to 2nd both days and 2nd overall. Sidonie Cleave also made her way into the mains and was equally consistent in two fantastic 4th place finishes. In the boy’s class, Freddie Richardson found his way to the finals on day one and scored a solid 6th while Olly Tyers went one better than Richardson in 5th on day two.

At the other end of the age groups, the eldest Bullet to make a podium was James Yeo in the 55+ cruiser class. Yeo had great laps across the weekend and kept consistent with two 2nd place finishes and 2nd overall. In the 45-49 cruiser classes, lead coach Julian Allen was racing both the 45-49 cruiser and Verts classes. Allen made his way to all four finals across the weekend, taking a pair of 5ths on cruiser and a 6th and 7th in Vets. 62-year-old Josephine Burston also raced two classes and scored a 6th and a 4th in the 30+ ladies challenge class while Teresa Challis made her second A final of the year in the 30+ ladies’ cruiser, claiming 8th on day two.

Back down to the 11-year-old girls’ class and 10-year-old Poppy Bishop was battling against the bigger girls both days. Bishop fought hard for a 4th and 5th across the weekend and a fine 3rd place finish in the overall. Emma Kiss matched Bishops scores as she smoothed her way to a 5th and a 4th while Allegra Trew rounded out the field on day two. Harry Tyers and made day twos final in the boy’s class taking 5th.

The final Bullet on the podium was Molly Nice in the 17-29 ladies’ cruiser class. Nice is a big wheel specialist and put it into 3rd on day one and 4th on day two.

Also making the finals were Louis Tay-Edwards – 15/16 cruiser, Mia Kiss – 9 girls, Henry Rowe 17/18s and Josh Butson in the 19-29s.

The Bullets winter race series kicks off on Sunday 1st October at their Deanery Hill track on and continues monthly through the winter. For more information on the club, coaching and racing please check out www.braintreebmx.com

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Braintree BMX Club | Success at the Euro Champs and the East BMX Series

European Championships – Besancon, France – 08.07.2023

East BMX Regional Series – Round 7 – Norwich – 09.07.2023

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo’s by UEC / Sprint Cycling | Holeshot Cycling

Braintree BMX Club | Success at the Euro Champs and the East BMX Series

European Championships – Besancon, France – 08.07.23

East BMX Regional Series – Round 7 – Norwich – 09.07.23

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo’s by UEC / Sprint Cycling | Holeshot Cycling

Braintree Bullets BMX Club are celebrating success as Fria Challis was crowned European Champion at the UEC European BMX Championship in Besancon, France on the same weekend they secured an unassailable lead in East Anglian Club standings.

The Bullets had a squad of 13 riders over in France and alongside Freia’s win, they also had 3 other finalists. Challis put on an amazing performance throughout the days racing, going unbeaten through the heats and qualifiers to dominate the 15-year-old girl’s class. The Halstead teenager was fully focused to secure the title after crashing out while battling for the lead in 2022. After the race she said ‘This one means so much to me. The heat and level of racing made the day tough, but I’m really pleased to take the win. Thanks to all my coaches and support team for helping me get here.’

Oliver Tyers made his way to the finals in the 12-year-old boy’s class. Tyers has been finding form through the mid-season and showed his work ethic on his way to the European number 7. In the girl’s class, Katie Millar matched Tyers as she also claimed the European number 7 plate after a fantastic day’s racing. Sidonie Cleave also rode in the class to the quarter finals.

In the 13’s, Heath Thomas went into the finals amongst the favourites after he went unbeaten through the qualifiers to take his place on the gate in the finals. Thomas was up with the leaders as the pack went into the first turn, but the leader slipped out and Thomas was left with nowhere to go and crashed out while looking to make a pass. Fortunately, he was unhurt and rolled home in 7th.

Closer to home, 59 Bullets ventured to Norwich for the penultimate round of the BMX East regional series and were rewarded with 45 finalists and 11 class winners.

The youngest Bullet to take a class win was Ethan White in the 7s. White went unbeaten through the qualifiers to go into the final as the favourite and he put on a great display on his way to victory. Jack Barter and Gregory Sliwa-Nairac also made the finals.

Bullets flooded the pack in the 8s, and it was Rex Ford who continued to lead the charge as he showed the rest of the class a clean pair of wheels on his way to the win. Max Moss made his way to 4th, while Oscar Ryder-Bayes claimed 7th.

Keeping the ball rolling in the 9s, Edward Cordery took his first win of the year in fine style ahead of club mate Finlay Weir in 4th.

The wins kept on coming for the Bullets in the 10s as Aston Kightly stomped his authority on the class with a powerful display. Zach Parsons battled mid pack in the main while Noah Ford rounded out the field.

Freddie Richardson powered his way to yet another 12s class win, just ahead of club mate Leo Cranston who claimed his seasons best finish in 2nd. Adam Arnold also rode up into the finals. Allegra Trew romped home to the win in the 11-12 girls’ class ahead of Isla Watson in 2nd while Caitlin Yeo wrapped up the 13-14 girls.

In the cruiser classes, Jonathan Yeo took the win in the 15-16s as he styled his way to victory ahead of Jospeh Long in 2nd. Ruth Ford was back on track in the 30+ ladies and cruised to victory ahead of Georgina Connolly in 2nd and Debbie Cotton in 4th. Molly Nice was the final winner for the Bullets as she dominated the 17+ girl’s class.

The Bullets summer race series continues every Wednesday at their Deanery Hill track. For more information on the club, coaching and racing please check out www.braintreebmx.com

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British Cycling National Series Rounds 5&6 Gosport | Braintree Bullets

1st – 2nd July

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo’s by Abi Taylor 

British Cycling National Series Rounds 5&6 Gosport | Braintree Bullets

1st – 2nd July

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo’s by Abi Taylor 

Braintree Bullets BMX Club held on to 5th in the British Cycling National Series standings after a fantastic weekend of racing from their riders in Gosport at round 5 and 6 of the series. The Club had 47 entries amongst the 950 riders from across the country, and saw 24 Bullets into the finals, achieving 10 class podiums and 3 class winners.

In the Championship women’s category, Freia Challis claimed the national series champions title after a solid weekend of racing where she got to test her skills against the current Olympic Champion Bethany Shriever. Shriever took a clean sheet of wins on the first day of racing, but Challis was just 0.9 seconds off at her fastest and claimed 3rd on the day behind the other British Cycling senior squad member, Emily Hutt. The 15-year-old put on a great show as she went unbeaten through the second days racing to claim the title.

The youngest Bullet to take a class win was Phoebe Millar in the 7-year-old girls’ class as she also went unbeaten across the weekend, winning the finals by nearly a whole straight. In the equivalent boy’s class, Ethan White wrapped up the weekend with a 2nd place finish.

At the other end of the age groups, the eldest Bullet to make a podium was James Yeo in the 55+ cruiser class. Yeo had great laps across the weekend and claimed a 3rd on day one, that he backed up with a 2nd on day two to take an unassailable lead in the points standings and became the first 55+ cruiser national champion. In the 45-49 cruiser classes, lead coach Julian Allen was consistent throughout the weekend and wrapped up a pair of fine 5th place finishes. Also taking 5th was Josephine Burston in the 30+ ladies challenge class and Teresa Challis made her first final of the year in the 30+ ladies’ cruiser, claiming 6th on the line.

Heath Thomas took his second class win of the season in the 13’s on day two. A mistake at the start of day one saw him down in 2nd, but his final on the second days racing was the fastest lap in the class over the day. In the girl’s class, Lily Heighes battled mid pack for a 5th on day one, but showed great form on day 2 taking a strong 3rd place finish.

Just off the top step of the podium was Katie Millar in the 12-year-old girls. Millar was super consistent all weekend as she powered her way to 2nd both days. Sidonie Cleave also made her way into the mains and was equally consistent in two fantastic 4th place finishes. In the boy’s class, Olly Tyers also made the finals both days, but got caught up in some mid back chaos and settled for a 7th and 6th place finish.

Rex Ford came so close to his first 8-year-olds class win on day one, but he slipped his pedals in the last dash to the line and settled for 2nd on day one, and then took another podium on day two. In the girls’ class, Holly Bishop had her head down all weekend to take two strong 3rd places.

Back down to the 11-year-old girls’ class, Poppy Bishop was back in national competition and took a 4th on day one that she bettered on day two in 3rd. Emma Kiss made another final taking 5th with Allegra Trew rounding out the field.

The final Bullet on the podium was Molly Nice in the 17-29 ladies’ cruiser class. Nice is a big wheel specialist and put it into 3rd on day one and 4th on day two.

Also making the finals were Louis Tay-Edwards and Joseph Long in the 15-16 cruiser, Mia Kiss and Aston Kightly in the 9s, and Josh Butson and Josh Wallis in the 19-29s.

The Bullets summer race series continues at their Deanery Hill track on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. For more information on the club, coaching and racing please check out www.braintreebmx.com

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British Cycling National Series Rounds 3&4 Manchester | Braintree Bullets

3rd – 4th June

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo’s by Abi Taylor  (Images 1,2,4) | Bmx Widow Photography (Image 3)| Paul Ritchie (Image 5)

British Cycling National Series Rounds 3&4 Manchester | Braintree Bullets

3rd – 4th June

Written by Briantree Bullets BMX Club

Photo’s by Abi Taylor  (Images 1,2,4) | Bmx Widow Photography (Image 3)| Paul Ritchie (Image 5)

Braintree Bullets BMX Club racked up their biggest points haul of the season at rounds 3&4 of the British Cycling National Series in Manchester. The Club had 38 entries amongst the 995 riders from across the country, and saw 18 Bullets into the finals, achieving 9 class podiums and 4 class winners.

In the Championship women’s category, Freia Challis continued to dominate in her first season of premier class racing. The 15-year-old put on a great show as she went unbeaten both days to extend her lead in the national points standings. In the Jr. Mens class, Adam Gilbert picked his way through a first turn pile up to chase down the leaders in 3rd. Gilbert was back in the finals on day two with a fine 5th place finish.

The youngest Bullet to take a class win was Phoebe Millar in the 7-year-old girls’ class as she also went unbeaten across the weekend, winning the finals by nearly a whole straight. In the equivalent boy’s class, Ethan White wrapped up the weekend with a pair of 5th’s over the two days racing.

At the other end of the age groups, the eldest Bullet to take a class win was James Yeo in the 55+ cruiser class. Yeo had consistent laps across the weekend and went unbeaten to extend his lead in the points standings. In the veterans BMX and 45-49 cruiser classes, lead coach Julian Allen made three out of four possible finals across two classes with a 3rd place finish to top off the weekend.

Heath Thomas took his first class win of the season in the 13’s on day two. A mistake at the start of day one saw him down in 3rd, but his final on the second days racing was the fastest lap in the class over the whole weekend. In the girl’s class, Lily Heighes crashed out in the final on day one, but showed great form on day 2 taking 4th place.

Just off the top step of the podium was Katie Millar in the 12-year-old girls. Millar was super consistent all weekend as she powered her way to 2nd both days. Sidonie Cleave also made her way into the mains and was equally consistent in two fantastic 3rd place finishes. In the boy’s class, Freddie Richardson made his first national final and his first podium. A crash in his first moto looked to upset his weekend, but he rallied himself to battle his way to 3rd in the final on the first day. Olly Tyers also made the final on the second day, taking 6th place.

Back down to the 11-year-old girls’ class and Emma Kiss made her first national podium as she rode a great lap into 3rd place on day one, backed up with a 5th on day two with Allegra Trew rounding out the field.

Also making the finals were Rex Ford in the 8s, Mia Kiss and Aston Kightly in the 9s, Henry Row in the 17-18s and Molly Nice in the 17-29s.

The Bullets summer race series continues at their Deanery Hill track on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. For more information on the club, coaching and racing please check out www.braintreebmx.com

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