BMX RIDER Jamie Phillips has suffered a season-ending injury which has also dashed his hopes of competing at the European Championships in Verona later this year, writes MATTHEW DAVIES.

The 13-year-old, from Langley Burrell, fell off his bike in practice, suffering concussion and dislocating and breaking his collarbone.

Phillips had just got back from the UCI BMX World Championships in Medellin, Colombia, when the accident took place.

He lost control of his bike when he took a jump in practice, landing on his front wheel instead of his back one, being violently thrown from the saddle into the next jump, falling onto his head and his back.

The injury means a considerable lay-off for the teenager, who won’t be racing competitively again this year and will have to wait a minimum of eight weeks to recover.

His dad Gary said: “For him, it’s a massive frustration he’s incredibly upset.

“Consultants have told him to rest, he is pulling his hair out if I am honest with you.

“He has suffered with injuries a lot of late, he had to overcome a broken and dislocated wrist in time to compete in Colombia.”

The Sheldon School pupil has had to take time off school on doctors’ orders as he is still suffering with concussion.

Despite him not being able to ride competitively this year, Gary says Jamie may still decide to ride again before the year is out.

“If he wants to get on the bike in the autumn that’s great but he won’t be racing this year, from now it is about building for next year.

“He won’t be able to ride in the world championships next year because he can’t qualify but he might be able to qualify for the European Championships, which are in Azerbaijan in 2018.”

As a parent, Gary understands the risks involved in the sport, but says it ‘comes with the territory’ He said: “It’s not just a sport of riding little bikes around a track or doing tricks in the street.

“It’s high speed, jumping 20-30ft obstacles, often you see riders 5-10m in the air and riding so close the rider can potentially shove opponents off the track. They are all ingredients for things to go seriously wrong, but make the sport what it is.”