September 9 2014.


Fresh from winning his first British championship round at sandy Culham on Sunday, Stefan Murphy has announced he is become the first British rider to compete in the prestigious French beach race championship this winter.

Murphy, a two-time winner of the Skegness beach race, who was unbeatable at quad cross events on sand earlier this season, will compete in all rounds of the series.

Called the “Campionnat de France des Sables” the championship runs over five established winter beach races, ending with Le Touquet.

The first round is at Berck Plage on 18 October, which means Murphy will miss the Weston Beach Race, but with the series attracting all the top French riders and many other European stars it is vital he does not miss a round.

“I like riding sand and I go pretty well on it, so I’ve decided to give it a go,” said Murphy. “I’d also like to branch more out into Europe in the future.”

This year’s championship was won by Fazilleau Rochereau, from Jeremie Warnia, the recent winner at Pont de Vaux.

The 2014-15 quad rounds are Berck Plage, October 18; St Leger de Balson, 13 December; Grayan-et-L’Hopital, 10 January; Hossegor, 24 January; Le Touquet, 31 January 2015.

Each event also features a solo race.


Pictured above: Murphy celebrates winning his first British championship round flanked by Paul Winrow (left) and Sheldon Seal.