MOUNT Isa youngster Bill Woodward is off to Europe for the World BMX Championships after his huge success at the BMX National titles in Brisbane.
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The nine-year-old returned from the BMX National Championships in Brisbane two weeks ago with a trophy and Australian number plate in each hand representing his own country’s team selection.
Bill, who is a student at Sunset State School in Mount Isa, claimed fifth place in the 8-10 years age group as well as sixth place in the 9 years age group - the latter qualifying him for the World Championships in Zolder, Belgium.
What made Bill’s achievements even more impressive were the unfamiliar wet and muddy conditions that were on show for riders in Brisbane.
“I wasn’t happy about it (the rain),” Bill said.
“It was my first time racing in the wet. I was a bit nervous but it feels very good to qualify (for Worlds).”
The Pure Young Guns team member was tested against 76 other riders over three different races that lead to an eight-man final where he placed sixth in the all-important one that will send him to Europe.
“It’s going to be hard (in Belgium).”
Bill’s mother Tony Woodward is an extremely proud parent after her son’s latest accomplishments.
“We didn’t expect it at all,” Woodward said.
“We are very proud and happy of what he achieved in Brisbane. His dream was to make the top 16 so he went above and beyond. I’m sure he will do us proud (at Worlds).”
Bill, who will be travelling overseas with dad Douglas Woodward, is now targeting the Far North Queensland Zone trials on June 6-7 before he moves onto the Queensland Country Championships in Townsville just two weeks out from his Belgium trip.
“I’ll be training hard from now,” Bill said.
“My goal for Worlds is to make quarters.”
Having not even travelled on an aeroplane to date yet, Bill has plenty of key figures to acknowledge on his road to Belgium.
“I’d like to thank Jack Deller and Matt Auhl at Mad Dog Diesel, as well as Luke Buckland at PJL Group. James Derrick has been a big help at Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific too. Last but not least, I wouldn’t be going to Belgium if it wasn’t for the help of Tony and Alison Midgley from Lil Ozi Shr3dr Mini BMX, and John Davies from Ozzie Outdoors and Second Hand.”