Hillingdon Win Gold As BMX Brings Young Londoners Back Together

Hillingdon won gold at the London Youth Games 2021 BMX event, which was held at Hayes BMX Track on Sunday, 11^th July.

With 20 boroughs competing, Hillingdon saw off stiff competition from reigning champions Southwark, who finished second, and Hackney, who finished third, to be crowned champions of London.

London Youth Games 2021 BMX event featured male and female races in multiple age groups as well as an inclusive Wingz category for young people with additional needs.

Hillingdon’s winning riders included Dylan Slatter, Cody Coker, Micah Laryea, Austin Sanders, Chay Young, Flynn Sanders, Johnny Jackson, Kieran Grinham, Oliver Whicker, Robert Head, Shannon Tobin, Stephanie Webb, Shaun Tobin, James Timmins, Charlie Phelps, Corey Whitby, Hayden Timmins, Patrick Devine and Joseph Howell.

Individual medals were won by Cody Coker (Gold), Chay Young (Gold), Robert Head (Gold), Shannon Tobin (Silver), Stephanie Webb (Bronze), Shaun Tobin (Gold) and Patrick Devine (Gold).

“I always love the London Youth Games,” said Robert Head from Hillingdon. “It brings all different kinds of riders together and gives them a taste of what the sport is about in a friendly environment.”

Phoebe Gaynor from Hackney, who won the 15-16-year-old female expert category, said: “There’s always such a great energy when we come to the London Youth Games. I’m really happy to have won a gold medal but I’m even more proud of our team for getting on the podium. There’s not been many competitions recently because of Covid. This has been the first big London one. It feels good to be back competing again.”

“I thought it was an amazing event,” said London Youth Games CEO, Andy Dalby-Welsh. “Young people’s physical and mental health has been challenged during the last 18 months so to see them out supporting one another, competing against one another, and doing it with a smile on their faces has been brilliant.”

Sunday’s riders could be hoping to follow in the tracks of Kye Whyte, who previously competed for Southwark at the London Youth Games and is now representing Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics.

Nigel Whyte, Kye’s father, who was at the London Youth Games event, said: “It’s been a great day for all the kids. Events like this are really important. Especially after the year we’ve had. It gives everyone the chance to have a go and helps gets kids off the road and on to bikes.”

Hillingdon and Hackney were joint winners of the ‘Respect The Games’ award, which celebrates the borough that best exemplifies the London Youth Games values of Fairness, Ambition, Inclusion and Respect.

The London Youth Games has been using the power of competitive sport to create life-changing opportunities for young Londoners for over 40 years. It has provided a pathway for some of the greatest athletes to come from the city. Dina Asher-Smith, Raheem Sterling, Alex Scott, David Weir and Mo Farah all had the opportunity to represent their boroughs growing up.

Having been forced to cut short its 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, London Youth Games is delighted to be back delivering live sport for young Londoners at a time when they need it most.

All the photos from LYG 2021 BMX can be viewed here.

Full results from LYG 2021 BMX can be found here.