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Laylas Blog

European BMX Championships

I seem to be the only person who did not go to Glastonbury and did not sit at home complaining.
Instead I spent the weekend at another event in Cheddar, just up the road from Glastonbury - The European BMX Championships!

I was there all weekend filming for Eurosport and loved every second.

For those who are not aware of BMX racing, It rocks.
It is high speed racing where 8 riders race along a track full of various jumps and high backed corners. There were Crashes dramatic overtakes and everything you'd expect from any major race.

BMX racing has only recently hit it big after appearing for the first time in the Olympics in 2008 and as the Olympics are coming to us in 2012 the Great Britian Olympic team were out in force against the Europeans.

After spending the weekend with the riders, coaches and fans I became quite passionate about this particular final a type of passion and emotion that I have not felt since the 1998 world cup when my love of  Brazilian fooball was ruptured by France.I cried.

I came close to tears again when it came to the sunday BMX final.

Two of the GB team were in the final, the first time two brits to have made the final gate together in over 10 years! Liam Phillips and Marcus Bloomfield donned the Union Jack colours and raced spectacularly against riders from Belgium, the Netherlands, Latvia and Czech Republic.

The emotional part was simply watching Liam, A young man (20) with 10 consecutive british titles under his belt and set with the Great british team to represent our country in the 2012 Olympics. A friendly chilled-out and infectious personality ready and willing to help in any way he can. When interviewing some other well known riders PA's and managers had to get involved telling me what to and what not to ask however with Liam there was none of the drama just a cheeky Burnam-on-sea lad.

Before the race I said good luck to Liam at the start gate and told him I would meet him at the finish line - (With three cameras)

Marcus came second behind Belgium winner Arnoud Du Bois and Liam... took fourth place.

As Liam crossed the finish line behind three others he looked up directly at the cameraman, then promptly turned around on his bike and began to slowly pedal back up the track. He took a moment and attempted to retun to the finish line knowing that I would approach him, then began circling on his bike in one spot. It was tough to watch even tougher to know that I would have to talk to him eventually - he and I both knew it was part of the job. I turned to the camera "lets just give him a moment" and we all waited in scilence as Liam continued to avoid leaving the track, a low buzz could be heard from the Belgium winner being interviewed and having his picture taken behind me whilst Liam continued to circle, eventually he rode towards me, took off his helmet and gave me a timid yet cheeky smile. He talked us through what went right and what went wrong and ended in a line that made me so proud of this young man. "I am chuffed that two brits were on that final gate - I am chuffed that I made the final"

And so are we Liam!

They both qualified highly for the World championships and are off to Australia in 5 weeks to show the world what awesome talent Great Briton is made of.

 

- LAYLA ANNA-LEE

Layla Anna-Lee is the presenter of BalconyTV London.

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