“I’m an internationally renowned BMX champion - I've created over 200 tricks in a year"

An internationally renowned BMX champion, 51, has said he’s drawn to the artistic side of the sport and continues to create his own tricks - over 200 last year.

Effraim Catlow manages the famous Southsea Skatepark - one of the oldest skate parks in the UK which has seen many international skateboard champions such as Tony Hawk and Olympic gold medallists.

Catlow, who is also a professional BMX flatland rider, said: “Started out like a lot of kids playing football, and then I discovered the skatepark. I was lucky enough to come past the skatepark whilst two of the best riders in the UK at the time were here, Craig Campbell and Carlo Griggs and that kind of made a big impression on me.

“Would come down here at the weekends, and the manager at the time, John Thurston, sort of took me under his wing. Within a year, I started doing the regional competitions, started out in Winchester, and then progressed to the national competitions, finished in the top three for the year end points, and sort of gained a bug for it really.

“It's like an art form for me and then when you compete, it's a sports side of it, where you're training and that kind of thing to be consistent. But nowadays I'm more concerned with the artistic side of it and creating my own tricks. Still to this day, creating my own tricks. Over 200 tricks this year which is pretty amazing, pretty surprising.”

Catlow believes skatepark sports are good for mental health, with them allowing for a lot of freedom of expression.