Sussex sports starlets shoot to BMX championship victories

Poppy Bishop, eight, came third in the world in the under-nine championships, having previously becoming national and British champion.

Her sister Holly, seven, has been following in her footsteps after winning all of her national level races, successfully defending the national championship title that she won last year.

Poppy, who took part in the championships in Nantes in July, said: “It was nerve-wracking, but it has been good.

Poppy (left) and Holly (right) have both had success at national and international competitions

“I like riding my bike and I like to go fast all the time.

“I want to get world number one.”

The sisters, from Crawley Down, got into the sport after Poppy took part in a summer club with Holly following suit.

Poppy took up the sport around four years ago and Holly has been training since she was three years old.

Poppy recently competed at the world championships, ranking third

Holly said: “I just copied what my sister does. I don’t find it difficult at all.”

So far, the sport has taken the girls across the continent, with competitions in Belgium, France and across the UK.

With no tracks available in Sussex, training takes place at The Bethany Shriever in Gravesend in Kent and in Braintree in Essex.

The girls both travel to competitions across Europe with the support of their mum and dad, Kate and Tim.

Holly won all her races at the recent national events

In the future, the girls’ success could take them across the globe, with future world championships taking place in America and Australia.

Mum Kate said: “They put the effort in and they have done really well.

“We spend a lot of time at the races and it’s a whole social event, sometimes there’s 1,300 competitors. It’s a group so they like the whole social side of it.”

Both girls have their eyes set on future successes, although Holly is currently too young to compete at European and world level.