THE first round of the South BMX 2025 season kicked off in Bournemouth, where riders faced off in categories from the Female 6 and Under to seasoned racers in the Cruiser 50-plus class.
It was a day packed with intense racing, exciting performances and plenty of memorable moments.
Hayes Hawks sent a strong contingent of 38 riders, with many of them making their regional debut.
Six new faces took to the track for the first time, marking an exciting new chapter in their racing careers.
Among them, five-year-old Erin Thorose impressed with a fierce effort, earning a well-deserved second place in the Female 6 and Under category.
Her brother, Ethan, also put on a solid performance in the Male 8s, securing eighth place in the B Final.
Other debutants in the older categories included Eli Kelly and George Cruikshank in the Male 13s, Louie Arpino in the Male 14s, and Ben Adams in the Male 15s.
For these riders, racing at this level is a significant achievement - simply lining up on the eight-man gate for the first time is a milestone.
Hawks also had five riders competing in both the 20in and Cruiser categories.
Bradley Davison was a standout, taking podium finishes on both bikes: first on his Cruiser and third on his 20in in the Male 16s.
Santiago Montano joined him on the podium with a third-place finish on his Cruiser and eighth on his 20in.
Jamie Hayward made great strides, finishing fourth on his Cruiser and sixth in the Male 16s.
Dylan Slatter also impressed, finishing fifth overall despite a quick turnaround between his 20in and Cruiser finals.
Anita Wong showed grit, racing fiercely in both the 20in and Cruiser categories.
In the B Finals, Hawks had several riders claiming first-place finishes, including Augustus Bartolini (Male 8), Aidan Dowling (Male 11), Riley Binnie (Male 15), and Johnny Jackson (Cruiser 17-29).
Aneurin Marklew, new to the Hawks this season but not to BMX racing, also made an impact, finishing fifth in the B Final.
Alfie Ford battled hard in the Male 13s, earning a seventh place finish in the B Final.
Harvey Corcoran, competing in the Male 11s, showed determination but unfortunately didn’t make it through to the knockout stages.
Kieran Grinham, meanwhile, raced consistently and earned a solid sixth place in the final.
One of the most exciting moments of the day came in the Male 9 category, where Joel Prichard triumphed, securing his first regional win.
The atmosphere was electric as three Hawks riders—Oliver Ford, Harley Laker, and Prichard—competed for the A Final.
A strong showing in the semi-finals from Oliver (third) and Harley (fourth) ensured three Hawks riders would race in the final.
There was also strong female representation. Rachel Prichard, at the younger end of her merged age group category, finished eighth.
Poppy Oliver displayed resilience after a fall in Moto 3 to come seventh overall in the Female 14-15 category.
Iris Hajda, ranked third in Europe, took on the fastest 12-year-old boys in the South region and finished seventh overall.
The Cheek siblings—Kenzie (7), Erin (9), and Nate (11)—who recently relocated from Canada, raced hard. Kenzie and Erin both finished in fifth place in their merged age groups.
BMX racing truly is a family affair. Father and son duo Ben and Paul Adams competed in their respective age categories, with Paul taking third in the Cruiser 50-plus B Final.
Michael Baggs also raced in the 50-plus 20in category, finishing fifth.
Meanwhile, Zoltan Buday went head-to-head with his brother from another club in the 40-plus category, adding to the day’s competitive spirit.
The highlight of the day, however, was the Payback category, where the South region's elite racers compete for a share of the prize pot. With £160 for fist, £80 for second, and £50 for third, the competition was fierce.
Hawks riders Chay Young (18) and Cody Coker (16) both had a strong start to the day, with Cody earning two first-place finishes and Chay securing a couple of second places in the motos.
In the semi-final, the two friends and training partners raced against each other for a spot in the top four.
Cody made a strong move on the gate and managed to secure a third-place finish, clinching a spot in the final.
The day was full of intense action, personal achievements and moments of triumph for the Hawks. The club looks set to make a big impact in the 2025 season.
