Congratulations to Sarah-Jane Nichols! Inducted into the British BMX Hall Class of 2022 – Pioneer Female Racer

Before BMX, Sarah-Jane and her brother Michael competed in Schoolboy Motocross, gaining early racing experience. Sarah-Jane began BMX racing in 1981, immediately making her mark with a first-place finish at a Southampton race meeting. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming UKBMX Junior Girls No. 1 in 1982, followed by NBMXA No. 1 and British Champion in 1983, along with a 4th place finish at the JAG World Championships in Burbank, USA.

From 1984 to 1987, Sarah dominated British and European BMX. Her achievements include multiple UKBMX and NBMXA No. 1 titles, Champion of Champions, Kellogg’s Overall titles, and four European Championships. A standout season came in 1986, when she delivered one of the most impressive years in British BMX history — winning the NBMXA British Championship, earning UKBMX No. 1, and claiming the European Championship, capped off by winning the World Championships in front of her home crowd in Slough, England.

In 1987, Sarah-Jane added another NBMXA British Championship and European Championship to her record and was inducted into the NBMXA Hall of Fame, recognising her exceptional impact and achievements within the sport.

After stepping away from BMX, Sarah-Jane earned a black belt in Shotokan Karate and enjoyed a 35-year career in ice hockey, representing Great Britain and England internationally in Ukraine and France. In 1997, she appeared on ITV’s Ice Warriors as Taaraz the Renegade, part of a Gladiators-style ice competition series. She retired from ice hockey in 2020 and later turned her focus to endurance road cycling, completing major charity and long-distance rides including a 210-mile ride from a local village to Paris, as well as rides across Belgium and multiple 100-mile events in the UK.

In 2024, Sarah-Jane restored her original 1980s Redline BMX and reconnected with the sport through Old Skool shows and charity rides, including London’s Santa Cruise. A visit to Andover BMX track reignited her passion for racing, and she is now training with the goal of returning to competition in the 30+ women’s class.