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Double Victory for Laura Smulders in England

June 22, 2011 photographer: © Frank Smets

Laura Smulders, rider for the Team MeyBo/Bensink BMX Gates, has won Rond 9 and 10 from the European Championships in the junior woman category. In Birmingham, England, she showed being the best in her age-group at the moment. In the elite men category we saw a strong Rihards Veide.

The MeyBo/Bensink BMX Gates Team went tot the EC Rounds in England with nine riders. All elite riders – Arurs Matissons, Toon Jacobs, Rihards Veide and Kristers Taims – reached the quarter final on Saturday, but were than eliminated. “Everyone had a bit of a bad luck”, teammanager Berty Klerckx says. “Especially the pro section was relatively difficult”.

On Sunday Veide was very strong. The Letvian rider won his motos as well as his quarter final. In the semi final he became fifth after he has missed his start a little bit. His compatriot Matisons – back after six weeks rehabilitation from an injury on his ankle – could reach the quarter final. “You see him growing”, says the teammanager. “He only misses competitive edge”. The Belgian Toon Jacobs fell down on the pro section in his third moto, without serious injury.

The most important action of the weekend came from Laura Smulders, second year junior woman. In Compiègne, France, she won Round 3 earlier this year. The past weekend she showed her superiority by winning two days. She showed being ready for the Dutch and World Campionships next month.

In the category boys 15/16 year Niels Bensink reached the final on Sunday, in which he ended fourth. A day before he was eliminated in the semi final. In the same category Mike Klerkx rode the quarter final on Saterday and the semi on Sunday.

Merel Sulders and Karo Verssen from the MeyBo/Bensink Support Team could climb the podium two days. Merel won on Sunday the category girls 13/14 year and became second on Sunday. In the same group Karo took both days the bronze medal.

“I look back satisfied on the weekend even the results were possibly less than some may have hoped”, concludes the teamcoach. “We saw a very clever Laura Smulders and on Sunday a good Rihards Veire. Arturs Matisons and Kristers Taims become better step by step. Maybe there was more in it, but I am satisfied with the progress”.