Ruby Warren and Holy Diver both compete with the Western Titans club in Drumry.
Two teenage riders at a West Dunbartonshire BMX club have dreams of taking their skills across Europe next year.
Ruby Warren and Holly Diver both compete with the Western Titans club in Drumry, Clydebank, practicing every week on an increasingly weathered track.
However, the two 13-year-olds have secured success across Britain, with Ruby becoming the first Scottish female to ever win the British National Series, and Holly finishing fifth in the same competition.
Now club coaches hope the pair can contest European honours in 2026, but only if they can overcome funding shortfalls.
Both Ruby and Holly became interested in the sport about four years ago, when they were aged nine.
"Most of the kids she's competing against came into BMX aged about five, so Ruby has had a late introduction to it and has still sailed through it," explains Craig Warren, Ruby's dad and chairman of the Western Titans.
He contacted the BBC to highlight their achievements through Your Voice, Your BBC News.
"There are a limited number of female riders in the sport and having two of the talent of Holly and Ruby within the same club – especially one that is the small size of this club – is a freak occurrence," he added.
"I hope there are younger girls getting involved with the sport who see them out there, competing against the boys and against older age groups."
Holly used to travel to the Drumry track to ride her mountain bike for fun, and became impressed by a local BMX riders' skills, according to her dad Roy.
"She wanted to go to the club more and more and she learned a few wee tricks. Before we knew it, she was wanting to join the Titans club - and then she joined the youth group.
"It became something where as soon as you said BMX, her face would light up."
Since then both girls have racked up success in competitions and races close to home and further afield.
Earlier this year they came second and third at the British Championships, something Craig feels was a great achievement for the club, given its relatively small size - there are 34 members.
Ideally, both riders would be able to race abroad on a regular basis, gaining experience and testing themselves against Europe's best.
Ruby tasted this earlier in the year, when she went to Copenhagen for the world championships and reached the semi-finals.
"They want to test themselves at that level and they've got the talent to do it, they won't just be filling the numbers," says Craig,
"The problem is that the financial implications of trying to get better at this sport, even at that young age, are very expensive.
"It will cost a lot before you can reach the Olympic progress pathways, which provides funding. As a club we can't facilitate that."
Both families are now investigating sponsorship and funding that would let their daughters travel to Europe.
"We've not committed to anything yet as the worlds are in Australia and that might be a little too much," says Roy, who estimates equipment, training and expenses can rack up bills of several thousand pounds a year.
"But hopefully we can get a couple of European dates in."
'A precarious position'
The wider picture for the Titans - like many sports clubs across the country - is equally uncertain.
The Titans hold two training sessions a week throughout the spring and summer, with one of them an open entry session that lets any child or teenager have a go if they fancy trying the sport.
However, wear and tear on the club's track has taken a toll.
"The track just erodes through weather deterioration," explains Craig.
"It needs specialised work but we've been told there's no money from the council because of the financial climate - they own the track. That does put us in a precarious position.
"If the track continues to be in this state, then we won't be able to hold regional races next year - it won't be safe. It could potentially become too unsafe even for practising on."
Club members are already meeting politicians and members of West Dunbartonshire Council in an attempt to improve the facility and secure the club's long-term future.
Both girls, meanwhile, are set to compete at indoor events in Manchester throughout the autumn and winter.
For Craig, the success of both Ruby and Holly - as well as others at the club - show the benefits of an inclusive group, encouraging people to get involved in sport.
"They're flying the flag for girls in BMX. We know there are challenges young girls face in terms of being in a male-dominated club and sport, so hopefully more girls can join us and feel part of the club.
"Once you start BMX you get hooked, because you want to improve and trying to get round the track faster can become addictive. The challenge is getting kids on the track - because once they start riding there they struggle to come off it."
Category: General Sports
