AS the HSBC National BMX Series entered the second half of the season, Braintree Bullets BMX Club's riders continued to keep the club in the hunt for a podium finish in the national club points standings while seeing two of their own crowned as national champions.

Oli Cutmore hasn’t lost a lap in the 17-29 cruiser class all year and carried on in the same vein in Manchester with two more clean sheets to give him maximum points as he retained his national title.

Chasing Cutmore down all weekend was club-mate Shane Redgewell, who took a pair of seconds to keep himself in the hunt for a number two plate.

Also in the class finals over the weekend was Dan Gilbert, who rode to a fine fifth on day one and a sixth on day two.

Matching Cutmore’s winning ways was Freia Challis, who continued to dominate the nine to ten girls’ class.

Challis took the win both days to give her an unassailable lead in the national points standings, having won six of the eight rounds already this season.

Also taking two wins over the weekend was Adam Gilbert in the nine to 12 cruiser class.

Gilbert looked at home on the big wheels as he went unbeaten both days.

Also making the class podium was Cam Parrish, who took a third on day one and bettered that on day two with a second.

Joseph Harris chased the pair across the weekend taking a fourth and a fifth.

Riding up in the 14s was Seb Pantlin, who had set his sights on the podium.

In day one's final, he led the class but got overtaken in the first corner and tried to battle back but slid out in the second corner and settled for the minor placings.

On day two he was unstoppable and won lap after lap to win the final in great style.

Next up with a pair of podium finishes was Hayden Challis in the 15 to 16 cruisers.

Hayden was well in the mix across the weekend and will be challenging for the podium in the overall standings at the end of the season.

Other riders who made the finals for the Bullets were Charlie Long in the six and under class, Josh Cates in the 11s, Adam Gilbert in the 12s, Syd Allen in the 15s, Josh Butson in the 17 to 24s, Kelsey Dixon in the over-17 ladies, Lana Redgewell and Isabel Potter in the 17 to 29 ladies' cruiser and Teresa Challis in the over-30 ladies.

The next round of the HSBC National BMX Series will be at the Bullets' Deanery Hill track on July 1 and 2, where around 900 of the nation’s best BMX racers will battle for points.

The club’s Summer Series continues on Wednesday evenings through the summer.

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