A volunteer-run BMX club from Andover is celebrating yet another highly successful summer of competition after seven riders represented Great Britain at this summer’s UEC European Championships in France and the UCI BMX World Championships in Australia.
The headline success came in Sarrians, France, where Betty Wills was crowned UEC European Champion in the Girls 11 category after overcoming some of the toughest conditions riders have faced in recent years. Racing took place during an intense Mediterranean heatwave, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C, making every lap a test of endurance as well as skill.
Fellow Andover riders Esme Ward and James Miller also represented Great Britain with distinction, both narrowly missing places in their respective European Championship finals after impressive performances against the continent’s strongest riders.
Just weeks later, attention turned to Brisbane, Australia, where four more Andover riders competed at the UCI BMX World Championships.
Leading the way was Annabel Townsend, whose outstanding performances earned her a seventh-place finish in the world in the Women’s 17–24 category, securing another coveted World Plate for Andover BMX Club.
She was joined by Phuong Clements, Oscar Jewell and Ornella McGravey-Miles, the only female rider selected to represent the Army BMX Team, all proudly wearing the Great Britain jersey on the sport’s biggest stage.
While Brisbane represented a significant financial and logistical challenge for riders and their families, the club once again demonstrated its ability to compete internationally, continuing an extraordinary run of success.
Until 2023, Andover BMX Club had never produced a World Championship finalist. Since claiming its first World Plate at the 2023 UCI BMX World Championships in Glasgow, the club has returned from every subsequent World Championships—including Rock Hill, Copenhagen and Brisbane—with at least one rider finishing among the world’s top eight.
Last year’s Championships in Copenhagen remain the club’s most successful to date, with 15 riders travelling to Denmark and four returning home with World Plates.
In 2025, the club finished 6th in the national league, not 5th, improving on last year’s result rather than equalling it.
The club’s international success mirrors its rise domestically. Yesterday Andover BMX Club finished fifth in the British Cycling National Club League for the second consecutive seasons, behind only clubs from Exeter, Preston, Manchester and Birmingham, firmly establishing itself among the country’s leading BMX clubs.
Eric Esslemont, Chairman and Lead Coach of Andover BMX Club, said:
“These achievements are the result of years of dedication from our riders, their families and our volunteer coaching team. Betty becoming European Champion and Annabel earning another World Plate are incredible accomplishments, but every rider who qualified to represent Great Britain has done something special. We’re immensely proud of all seven riders.”
Luther Hindley, Media, Communications and Welfare Officer, added:
“We’re incredibly proud of what this club has achieved over the last few years. We’ve gone from never having a World Championship finalist to consistently producing riders capable of competing with the very best in the world. These successes show what can be achieved by a community club driven by volunteers, passionate families and ambitious young athletes. With the World Championships taking place in the Haute-Savoie region of France next year, we’re excited about the future and hope even more local riders will have the opportunity to compete on the world stage.”
As the club continues to grow, it is actively seeking support from local businesses and community partners to help develop facilities, expand participation and ensure more young riders have the opportunity to progress from grassroots BMX to international competition.