BRAINTREE Bullets BMX Club have relinquished their British BMX Series national title - but not without a fight.

They narrowly lost the title to Preston Pirates BMX Club by 270 points, following the final two rounds of the series in Telford.

Nevertheless, it was still a very successful weekend for the Bullets with some fine individual performances.

Olly Cates was the youngest Bullet out on the track in the six and under class.

He made the A finals in both days of racing, finishing eighth on Saturday and improving to fifth on Sunday.

Freia Challis, the only female Bullet to make the finals, dominated the seven-eight girls’ class.

She won on both days of competition, claiming her first national champions title.

In the tens, Josh Cates finished the year with a flourish by making his first national A final.

He stormed to second in the semi-final and then into the main event, where he finished eighth.

In the 11s, Adam Gilbert led out the final in the first day of racing but left a gap on the inside of the second corner and slipped back to third and out of the running.

In the second day's racing, he claimed second place to secure second overall in the national rankings.

Seb Pantlin had already wrapped up the national champions title in the 12s and was unbeaten all weekend.

Pantlin will be looking to ride up an age group next year, to gain stronger competition.

Matt Goodwins had been getting close to the A finals after winning a number of B finals through the year.

He took to the gate in day one's A final where he finished eighth.

In the 15s, Christian White had a mixed weekend of crashes and race wins.

He made the A final in the first day's racing and after a tough start, claimed fifth place.

On the second day, he won the B final which he won to finish the season with fifth overall in the national standings. Hayden Challis was consistent in the 15-16 cruiser A finals, with a fourth on day one and sixth on day two.

In the 17-24 class, Shane Redgewell and Josh Wallis made their way to the A finals in the super competitive class. Redgewell finished a fine fourth on day one, matched by Wallis the following day.

In the overall standings, Redgewell was eight and Wallis 14th.

Josh Butson missed the A final on both days but was second and third in the B finals and was a superb sixth in the overall standings.

In the 17-29 cruiser class, Oli Cutmore secured another pair of wins for the Bullets to claim the national champions title. Redgewell also rode into the finals where he finished eighth and third for fourth overall for the year.

Cutmore also made the A finals in the premier Superclass, finishing fifth in the final to claim eighth overall in the standings.

The ladies 17-29 cruiser saw Lana Redgewell and Isabel Potter both in the top-five overall.

Bullets coach Julian Allen made the A finals in both days of racing, in the Veterans class.

On day one he got stuck in the pack and finished seventh but improved on the second day to finish fourth, claiming a career-best overall finish of fifth.

The Bullets club race series continues on Wednesday evenings through the summer.

For more information on the club, racing and coaching email joolsxlr8@btinternet.com