Norwich High Flyers shine at UCI BMX World Championships

BMX club Norwich High Flyers has returned from a successful UCI BMX World Championships, having sent six riders up to Glasgow.

The Drayton-based club took six riders to the championship; Paul Barnard, Mickey Porter, Marcel Moore, Joe Douglass, Alan Hill and Jared Hill.

Expectations were high, with father-son duo Alan, 51, and Jared, 14, having both won the national series in their respective classes earlier this year. Alan also previously won age group categories at the World Championships in 2011 and 2014.

Both also performed admirably at this year’s European Championships in France, with Alan finishing fourth overall and Jared reaching sixth in the quarter-finals.

On day one of the World Challenge event in Glasgow, Alan competed in the Cruiser 50+ category, coming first in each of his three qualification runs, the quarter-finals and semi-finals, before achieving an overall third in the final.

Then on day three, it was Jared’s turn. He achieved third, second and second again in the Boys’ 15 qualification runs, then came within one place of the semi-finals, finishing fifth after being squeezed out by his competitors following a strong start in the quarters.

Alan took on the Masters’ series in the Mens 35+ category on day four – with some racers 15 years his junior.

After finishing second in each of his three qualification runs, Alan missed out on a space in the quarter-finals by one place.

Abi Hill, fellow rider as well as wife of Alan and mum of Jared, said it was a “fantastic, well run event” and that they are looking forward to the British Championships in Derby at the end of this month.

Beyond that, Jared has his eyes on the top of the sport.

Abi added: “He goes to the British Cycling Regional School of Racing, is on the Olympic Pathway and becoming an athlete is the goal.”