BMX duo Bethany Shriever and Taylor Andrews are the toast of their club after finishing top of the tree at the recent British Championships in Cheddar.

Bethany, 12, and Taylor, 15, won the female Female 11-12yr and Male 15yr sections respectively for Braintree Bullets BMX Club, who finished fourth overall at the championships.

Bethany defeated a field of 24 riders while Taylor triumphed over 42 fellow cyclists to secure his first British title at the fifth time of trying.

Bethany’s victory secured her number-one status in the country, a far cry from the preparation she experienced prior to her first British Championships.

“I started BMX riding in 2008 but I failed to qualify for my first British Championships so had to write a letter asking if I could be included,” said Bethany, who has also targeted a future place at the Olympics.

“I was accepted and in my first year I finished eighth.

“This year, it was a close run thing between myself and my two main rivals but I wanted it so bad and was in tears, cuddling my parents, when I won.

After four races to get to the final I was so nervous but I was telling myself I was going to win and how important it was to get a good start and stay in front.”

For Taylor, meanwhile, the 15-year-old was competing at his fifth finals, having “never come close” to winning in the past.

“The whole day went really well,” said Taylor.

“I was first in my moto races then third in the semi-final but in the final I got a really good start.

“It was my fifth British Championships and my best performance yet, I have never come close to winning it before.”

Both Taylor and Bethany ride for Braintree at the club’s track at Deanery Hill and are amongst around 80 or 90 members that regularly flock to the track to hone their skills in the high-octane sport.

Both issued glowing endorsements about the club and the sport in general, a sport which now included in the Olympic Games.

Taylor said: “I am definitely going to keep on doing it and we have the World Championships in Birmingham next year so I hope to be able to go to that.

“The winning, the adrenalin and the social side are key for me and the sport is all round good fun.

“The club is great and so supportive to all its riders and it keeps (you) away from the bad stuff that is happening in the country. It is a shame that there are not more BMX clubs like it.”

Bethany added: “I love the jumping, I love the bikes, I love the speed. It is amazing being out on the track,” said Bethany.

“My target is to reach an Olympic final, that is one of my big goals.”