A NINE-YEAR-OLD BMX rider has targeted an appearance in the British Championships less than 12 months after taking up the sport.

Naythan Kukla, from Winsford, recently finished third overall in the 9-to-11 year olds category after completing five rounds in the Racing Under the Roof BMX series on the international-standard track at te National Cycling Centre in Manchester.

The Winsford High Street Primary School student had 36 rivals to the prize places.

He only started BMX racing in April 2019 and has worked tirelessly to follow his dream.

Now, after getting on the podium in Manchester, he has set his sights on qualifying for the British Championships to be held at Leicester BMX track in August.

Nathan is a proud member of the Cheshire Ghost Riders BMX Club based in Crewe's Tipkinder Park and is grateful to coaches Martin 'Smiley' Brown and Ash Davey for all the hard work they have put into him, the other riders and the club in general.

His talents go further than the sport of BMX Racing though.

He is a member of Winsford Flash Sailing Club where he was awarded his RYA youth level 2 award last year.