Congratulations to Julie Woodward! Inducted into the British BMX Hall of Fame – Class of 2025 Pioneer Female Racer

Julie Woodward was already a successful athlete in football before moving on to BMX. She was a four-year running five-a-side football champion and also a Blackpool champion in gymnastics and the long jump.

Julie’s first bike was a Pro-Star back in 1982, and her first club was Mid-Lancs. Early North West rivals included Donna Duffy, Sue Peter, Debra Madeley, and Louise Westwell. By the end of 1983, Julie was North West Number 1, NBMXA National Number 1, and took third place at the British Championships in Derby.

For the 1984 season, Julie was picked up by Peugeot and competed in both associations, finishing fifth in UKBMX, second in NBMXA, and winning the 1984 British Championships.

Through the rest of the 1980s, Julie continued to be a major force — appearing in both the 1984 and 1985 Kellogg’s Series, winning the Scorpion International, and reaching multiple European and World Championship finals — placing 3rd in the 1985 Euros, 6th in 1986, and 2nd in 1987. She also earned more National titles, becoming UKBMX National Champion in 1985 and BBMXA (formerly NBMXA) Number 1 in 1988. Her career showcased remarkable longevity, with major titles spanning from 1983 to 1990, and she rounded out the decade racing in the elite Supergirls class alongside World Champions Luli Adeyemo and Lisa Wright.

Team-wise, alongside Peugeot, Julie also rode for YES/Suzuki and Kool Kit, and remains one of the most successful girl racers to come out of the UK’s 1980s BMX era.

After stepping away from the sport, Julie made a comeback in 2007. Her first race back was the Preston Winter National, which she won — proving her competitive spirit never faded. She went on to race in the Championship Female class against the young guns, making all the finals.

In 2010, Julie moved to Australia and continued racing at Ashmore BMX Club, where she captured several Queensland State and Australian National No. 1 titles. She also earned World No. 2 (by a photo finish!) in Adelaide 2009 and World No. 6 in Birmingham.

Today, Julie lives “down under” in Australia and will forever be remembered in British BMX history as one of the most accomplished and enduring female racers of the 1980s.