TEENAGE cycling starlet Libby Smith was in dominant form as she stormed to her first victory at the British BMX Championships.

The 14-year-old saw off the best young riders in the country in Manchester last weekend to complete a brilliant year.

Libby had twice won the National Series but up until last week, the British Championships, which is a one-off annual tournament, had eluded her.

Father Scott Smith said: “Libby had been trying to win the British Championships for five years and she’d been really unlucky.

“Last year she finished third but she’d been hampered by injury in the past.

“She was so happy to win the title, she cried with joy for an hour.”

The RSA Academy Arrowvale pupil was in great form at the annual showpiece UK event, which was hosted by Manchester BMX Club at their facility in Platts Fields over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The event attracted over 1,100 competitors from six regions in the UK.

Libby, who was voted The Advertiser’s 2012 Redditch Young Sports personality of the year, qualified through her heats with ease, progressing in to the semi-finals where she met 2014 British Champion Emily Orena and national number two Darcy Taylor from Birmingham BMX Club.

The Redditch Premier rider was initially challenged by Taylor, but showed her much-improved track skills and pulled away from the pack to move safely through to the 13-14 year old girls final.

She then made a perfect start and produced a faultless lap to win her first British title in style and complete a double for 2015 after being crowned National Champion back in June.

It has been a tremendous 12 months for Libby, who had consistently finished in the top three to take her second national series title.

The teenager was also picked by Team GB for the UCL World Cup in Zolder, Belgium.

Unfortunately, she finished 13th after hitting the starting gate in the semi-finals.

Libby will complete the year with international round October.