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European HoF Members

ALLIER Thomas (France)

2000 World Champion
1998 World Champion

2007 European Champion
2005 European Champion
2004 European Champion
1998 European Champion

BEMBOOM H. (Holland)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

European Challenge Cup / E.C.C. events - Slagharen , Holland

Mr. H. Bemboom (owner PP Slagharen) and Mr. G. Does (BMX organisation)

Organisation: Ponypark Slagharen with owner/director Mr. H. Bemboom taking care of all facilities and promoter/organiser Mr. Gerrit Does taking care of the sport technical part of the organisation as well as marketing, publicity, public relations (TV) and so on.

BEVER de Bas (Holland)

scannen00201992 World Champion
1991 World Champion
1990 World Champion

1994 European Champion
1992 European Champion
1990 European Champion
1989 European Champion
1988 European Champion

Bas de Bever switched in 1995 to MTB.

GD together with Corine Dorland and Bas de Bever

BLONDIAU Armand (Belgium)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Mr. Dekkers (R.I.P.) introduced BMX in Belgium and soon Mr. Blondiau followed.

Both men started organisations and promoted the sport of BMX in Belgium.

COMMENCAL Max (France)

1992 Max CommencalSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Founder and former owner of SUNN bicycles; now of Commencal Bicycles.

CORGUILLÉ Le Laëtitia (France)

2008 European Champion
2006 European Champion
2005 European Champion

2010 Supercross World Cup
2009 Supercross World Cup
2007 Supercross World Cup

COSTE D. (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Among others responsible for the organisation of:
  • Indoor BMX de Bercy - Palais Omni Sport - Paris, France

Mr. Didier Coste was responsible within the Lariviere Organisation ("Chef Redaction" of the Edition Lariviere group)

DEJONCKHEERE Jan (Belgium)

jan-dejonckheere-and-gerrit-doesSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Founder of PRO-WINNER bicycles and now owner of a production company making ATB/MTB frames and parts as well as BMX frames and parts.

DEKKERS Albert (Belgium)

albert-dekkersSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Mr. Dekkers (R.I.P.) introduced BMX in Belgium and soon Mr. Blondiau followed.

Both men started organisations and promoted the sport of BMX in Belgium.

DICK Scott (England)

2012-Scott-Dick-Unckle-BuckSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Pioneer non racer, promotor of BMX, official, organiser;  in short one of thé pioneer BMX fathers in England

Picture on right, courtesy of Rhodopsin Photography

First Name: Scott
Family Name: Dick
Married: YES with Margaret Dick
Date of Birth: 25/8/1956
City where you live: London

DOES Gerrit (Holland)

Gerrit-Does-left-and-Louis-Vrijdag-rightSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

As you can read from the History of BMX, Gerrit Does discovered BMX in the USA in 1974 and imported the sport in Europe, more specific Holland in the first place.

Louis Vrijdag has been instrumental getting the sport organised in Holland together with Gerrit Does in the early days.

Gerrit Does has been instrumental getting an international organisation of the the ground called the I.BMX.F. , now integrated into the UCI. Louis Vrijdag was instrumental integrating I.BMX.F. into the UCI which took about 6 years to realise all together.

DOES Nico (Holland)

Nico-DoesSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

At the age of 6 (1976) Nico was already riding BMX bikes, which his uncle Pierre Karsmakers (former MX Dutch and USA National Champion) imported from the USA in the late '70s.

Officialy Nico was the first license holder in Holland and probably in Europe with an official registrated organisation. At the time his skills were very exceptional. Even in the USA, were he competed at the JAG BMX World Championships in 1979, American riders, among them several Pro's, were astonished by his technic and skills of ND doing one-handers, no-footers and such.

Besides racing, Later on Nico started his own company building and selling BMX bikes. He started WEBCO Bicycles in 1991. Up till this day (ending 2001) Nico is involved in building these bikes and selling them.

KD Quality Products AG, owned by Albert Knill in Switzerland, works with Nico on this. (KD stands for, Knill Does).

Besides all of this Nico still is actif as a trainer/coach on local level with his club "F.C.C. Lion d'Or" in Valkenswaard - Holland, on National level with the KNWU regional training sessions and at International level, when invited to give training/seminars and so on.

More then 25 years he has been involved in the sport of BMX and still lives the sport a loves. Nico never won a European or World title, did win several Dutch national titles and 2 third places at World Championships (Indianapolis-USA and Brisbane-Australia) but for sure deserves his place in the European BMX Hall of Fame as BMX racer/promoter of the absolute "first hour of the sport".

More information on Nico can be found in his University of BMX Advisor CV.

Inducted in 2001

DOES Pieter (Holland)

Pieter-Does-August-79-BMX-track-Eindhoven-5yoSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

A pioneer rider. still active in the sport (without a break) and competing at the highest level, celebrates his 25th anniversary in the sport in July 2004, has been nominated: Pieter Does, Holland. Update: end year 2004 Pieter Does stopped racing.

For more information about Pieter Does, check out his profile.

Inducted in 2004

 

DORLAND Corine (Holland)

Corine Dorland at the Indoor de Dijon1994 World Champion
1993 World Champion
1991 World Champion

1995 European Champion
1993 European Champion
1992 European Champion

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Corine Dorland has been crowned the QUEEN of CHAMPIONS, holding 3 World titles in the highest age/performance classes and another 7 titles in lower age classes, which makes 10 world titles won in total.

Corine Dorland switched in 1997 to MBT.

EKWALL Stefan (Sweden)

Stefan-Ekwall-Sweden-2004-relaxing-with-his-grandsonSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Stefan Ekwall started a motorcycle- and bicycle shop with a partner, Two WheelService in Sweden. Both men have been moto-cross riders up till that time. They started with renting BMX bikes to youngsters and they could ride these bikes on a small BMX track beside our shop. They started to imported "Kuwahara" bikes when the ET movie came to Sweden.

 

GROENENDAAL v.d. Christiaan (Holland)

christian-vd-groenendaalSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Founder and owner of GPR / ONE Bicycles. Still going (very) strong.

Concerning the motivation for this induction, please do read the article on Christian van de Groenendaal in the blog section (Opinions).

HEIDKAMP Uli (Germany)

Uli-Heidtkamp-2003-Old-Skool-Reunion-Dessel-BSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Uli was one of the first BMX racers in Germany. Started in 1979 and competed in his first international race in 1980 at the AVRO GOLD CUP TV event in Waalre-Holland. In the early days, Uli was the "face" of German BMX.

In his country he was a trend-setter at the time because he was racing in the oldest age-class at the time (16+). BMX was new and many people found it kind of strange, boys of about 16 year and older riding these small 20" BMX bikes.

Uli's dad Helmut Heidtkamp, was one of the first pioneers of BMX in Germany in the Cologne area and did a great job getting BMX off the ground as an organised sport and promoting the sport of BMX in general.

1980-Uli-Heidtkamp-Gerrit-Does-helping-out-during-the-AVRO-TVBy nominating Uli, we also honour his dad (died in the early '90 of cancer) for his pioneer work.

Inducted in 2001

HILL Greg (USA)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Inducted in 2011

History of BMX (1988 - 1989)

YEAR 1988.

1988 - General developments:

Belgium: In 1987 and 1988 a working together relationship was established between the Belgium leading BMX organization, B.C.B. (Belgium Cyclo Federation) and Belgium FIAC/UCI affiliated organization K.B.W.B. (Royal Belgium Cycling Federation). However this cooperation never came really true this time. Both federations went their own way during 1988.

In Belgium the other existing BMX organizations. B.L.F. and V.B.F. seized to exist. The BMX organization active in the French speaking part of Belgium called F.BMX.B. also disappeared from the BMX scene.

Trialsin:
Trialsin has developed more in the past 2 years. Two World Championships have been organized and besides Spain and Germany, also France, Italy and Switzerland were very active now. Trialsin was developing in Canada and in the USA. Trialsin is promoted heavily at this very moment. Ot PI, the Overall 1987 World Champion Trialsin, is going to the USA for 3 months later on this year to perform and run schools/trialsin clinics together with National U.S.A. Champion Kevin Norton. The III UCI Trialsin World Championship will be a four round series in 1988: Round 1 in Spain on July 17th., Round 2 in France on July 24th., Round 4 in Germany on July 31st. and Round 4 in Belgium on August 7th.

Just to know how such an event was organized, I did go to the one in Belgium at Bilstain, which was very interesting. I also did meet for the first time with GT sponsored Hans Jorg REY (at the time Swiss Trialsin Champion). At the event there were riders present from the following countries: Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Tjechoslowakia, USA, Andorra, Italy and Germany, overall around 170 participants.

HOLMES Dale (England)

Dale-Holmes2001 World Champion
1996 World Champion

1997 World Cup Winner

Dale Holmes on the right with Nico van DartelDale Holmes on the right with Nico van Dartel

daleholmes.com is one of Nico's favorite BMX websites

 

Dale Holmes on the right with Nico van Dartel (www.daleholmes.com is one of Nico's favorite BMX websites)

HOOGENDOORN Phil (Holland)

1986 World Champion
1985 World Champion
1984 World Champion
1984 World Champion (24")
1983 World Champion

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Phil Hoogendoorn is the only BMX racer that up till today (year 2010, after that Elite cruiser classes seized to excist) did win a World title in 20" as well as in 24" class in one year (Japan 1984: Amateur Class 20 and 24 inch).

Finished career in 1994.

JARVIS Malcom (England)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Together with Alan Rushton, Geoff Wiles and his wife Sue, Malcom Jarvis introduced, started organising and promoting BMX in England.

JARVIS Sue (England)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Together with Alan Rushton, Geoff Wiles and her husband Malcom, Sue Jarvis introduced, started organising and promoting BMX in England.

KIMMANN Niek (Holland)

2015 World Champion

2016 World Champion

2018 World Cup

2019 European Champion

2019 World Cup

2021 Olympic Champion

2021 World Champion

KOOYMANS Albert (Holland)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Founder and owner of ASCO bicycles. Still producing parts for among others, ATB/MTB bikes (year 2003).

KULIGOWSKI Alain (France)

1984 alain kuligowskiSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Together with René Nicolas, Alain Kuligowski introduced and started organising BMX in France.

Among others responsible for the organisation of:

  • Indoor BMX de Bercy - Palais Omni Sport - Paris, France

In the beginning, Mr. Alain Kuligowski was responsible within the Lariviere Organisation. Later on this was taken over by Mr. Didier Coste (both men were "Chef Redaction" of the Edition Lariviere group).

 

 

LEVEQUE Christophe (France)

Christophe Leveque in Luzern Swiss after the Euro Championship in 19902001 World Champion
1999 World Champion
1998 World Champion
1997 World Champion
1995 World Champion
1993 World Champion
1991 World Champion

1994 European Champion
1993 European Champion
1993 European Champion (24")
1991 European Champion

1995 World Cup Winner

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Christophe Leveque has been crowned the KING of CHAMPIONS, holding 7 World titles in the highest age/performance classes and another 2 titles in lower age classes, which makes his total: 9 world titles won, up and till this moment. Who will beat this record?

Special note:

Christophe Leveque (FR) is one of only 3 riders that succeeded in winning a 20 and 24 inch European Championship title in one year during the 19 years of European BMX Championships. The orther 2 are Pierre van Zuijlen (NL) and Eric Minozzi (FR).

LYNCH Tom (England)

Tom-Lynch1986 European Champion

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Tom Lynch, one of the most successful British riders who managed to rake the Superclass by storm when he was only 16 years old (in 1986). Tom stated "I still have me verses TEAM AMEV dreams". Insiders know exactly what Tom means by this!

Tom started out as a moto-cross rider but switched to BMX in 1980, competed in his first BMX events in 1982 and Tom finished his career in 1994.

MASSE Mr. (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France

Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin

The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.

In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.

The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.

In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.

The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.

Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.

It is very special that an organisation last this long.

It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.

All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.

MCS Team Europe (Holland)

1990 World Championship Team

Team Members:

  • Bas de Bever (NL)
  • Dale Holmes (GB)
  • Nico Does (NL)
  • Christophe Leveque (F)
  • Nick Lacey (GB)
  • Yannick Rosset (CH)
  • Jurgen van Melis (NL)
  • Tina Madsen (DK)
  • Pieter Does (NL)
  • Mark van Gerwen (NL)
  • Boyd Karsmakers (NL)

Team Manager:

  • Gerrit Does

MINOZZI Eric (France)

1989 World Champion

1988 European Champion
1987 European Champion
1987 European Champion (24")

Special note:

Eric Minozzi (FR) is one of only 3 riders that succeeded in winning a 20 and 24 inch European Championship title in one year during the 19 years of European BMX Championships. The orther 2 are Pierre van Zuijlen (NL) and Christophe Leveque (FR).

MORAIN Mrs. (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France

Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin

The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.

In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.

The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.

In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.

The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.

Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.

It is very special that an organisation last this long.

It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.

All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.

MORTEL van de Anita (Holland)

1988 World Champion
1987 World Champion

1989 European Champion
1984 European Champion

Anita van de Mortel finished her BMX career in 1991 and restarted in 2001!!!

National Team England

1996 World Championship Team in Brighton - England

Team Members:

  • Scott Beaumont
  • Vikki Overson
  • Dale Holmes
  • Jamie Staff
  • Dylan Clayton
  • Martin Murray

Team Manager:

  • Pete Phillips

National Team France

2003 World Championship Team in Perth - Australia

Team Members:

  • David Gibert (JM)
  • Thomas Allier (EM)
  • Cyrielle Convert (JW)
  • Helena Aubry (EW)

Team Manager:

  • Farbice Vettoretti

National Team Holland

2004 World Championship Team in Valkenswaard - Holland

Team Members:

  • Robert de Wilde
  • Ivo van der Putten
  • Willy Kanis
  • Natalja Busschers

Team Manager:

  • Ton Kolvoort

NICOLAS Philippe (France)

1980 Philippe Nicolas of France with young Pieter Does HollandSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

One can call Philippe the pioneer and trend setter for French BMX.

He was the first ever National Champion of France in the oldest age class in 1979.

Philippe was a good promoter for BMX, competed also in the AVRO GOLD CUP TV event in Waalre-Holland in August 1980.

Inducted in 2001

NICOLAS René (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Together with Alain Kuligowski, René Nicolas introduced and started organising BMX in France.

Up and till today René Nicolas is involved in BMX (works for FFC).

NIJS Sven (Belgium)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Waalre, April 2006 - Sven Nijs (BEL) part 2.

Sven Nijs 2005-2006 World Cup winnerUpdate: Sven Nijs 2005-2006 World Cup winner

Old Skool BMX' er Sven Nijs has been unbeatable this past winter. Although Sven was not able to prolong his 2005 World Title in Cycle cross, this 2006 season Sven was almost unbeatable winning the UCI World Cup series 2005/2006, among other things.

Update Sven Nijs during a Press-conference

Sven Nijs (BEL)  1.

Updated April 2003: Old Skool BMX’ er and former member of the WEBCO team Belgium, changed from BMX to Cycle Cross in the early ’90 and is doing very well indeed in this discipline. Just recently Sven became the Belgium National Champion Cyclo Cross 2003 in the Elite Men class. He owns already a World Champion title and is a “World Cup” series winner in the Cyclo Cross discipline.

February 10th he also did conclude the so-called “Super Prestige” Cyclo-cross series (the last out of 7 events) by winning in Harnes - France. This was the 4th time that Sven did win the “Super Prestige” series.

NYBERG Andreas (Sweden)

1985 Andreas NybergSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Another pioneer rider has been nominated, Andreas Nyberg from Sweden.

Andreas was the first ever Swedish BMX racer in the, at the time, oldest age class and the first one from Sweden to compete in international events, among others, the 1983 I.BMX.F. Worlds in Holland and the Murray World Cup in Nashville Tennessee, USA.

Andreas still runs a Bicycle and BMX shop in Sweden.

Inducted in 2004

PERRAQUIN Mr. (France)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Indoor de TOURS - Tours, France

Mrs. Morain and Masse (original founders), Mr. Perraquin

The fundament for this prestigious event was laid down by 5 clubs from the region d'Indre-et-Loire. In 1984 the Rochecorbon BMX clubs organised the first event with 200 entree and around 2000 spectators.

In February 1986 four clubs organised the French National Indoor Championship Superclass. Main sponsor was Credit Agricole 'd Indre-et-Loire.

The 3rd Indoor de Tours was organised in March of 1987 and for the first time foreign riders were allowed to compete. A new concept was introduced, "Le Trophée des As". In this open class riders of 16 year and older were able to compete against each other.

In 1989, the 5th indoor in Tours had grown to almost 800 entries and more then 6000 spectators came to watch the racing. It was for the first time also that the original BMX organisation AFB, worked together with the French cycling federation, the FFC.

The 6th Indoor de Tours in 1990 did hold the 1st. leg of the I.BMX.F. European Championship Superclass and also included the 3rd. round for the French National Indoor Championship title. Around 1300 entries and 7000 spectators.

Up and till this year (2001), this prestigious event has been organised 17 times now. This is truly unique for Europe. This top event with an average even now of over 1000 entries, draws a lot of interest from outside BMX people. On Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, many people from the city of TOURS come to the hall to see spectacular BMX racing.

It is very special that an organisation last this long.

It has everything to do with the enthusiasm and love for the sport put into this by the original founders of the organisation Mr. Morain and Masse and also by the present president of the organising committee Mr. Perraquin and his staff.

All 3 organisations and named organisers are true Hall of Fame members and unique in their kind. Proud to have them as nominees.

POSTUMA Eddy (Holland)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

2004_Eddy_Posthuma_l_and_Gerrit_Does_rDuring the Worlds in Valkenswaard – Holland, July 2004 I did meet among others, with an old friend of mine who retired from BMX about 3 years ago, after the Worlds in Louisville Kentucky - USA. His name is Eddy Posthuma. As probably most of the present international riders know, Eddy has been a head-official (track) for many years at European International events and World Championships all over the Worlds.

I find it hard in a way, that when top riders and/or international officials stop with their activities, it seems they disappeared from the face of the earth. In my view, those concerned deserve a place on a podium, where they can and will be remembered.

A sport with no history is no sport” and the people I am talking about did mean something for the sport of BMX and therefore their history has to be written down for which I use the University of BMX website.

Eddy Posthuma (R.I.P.)

Sorry to see Eddy passed away in 2009.

EDDY_POSTHUMAEddy Posthuma is one of those men who has to be remembered for the work he did for so many years. Eddy got involved in International officiating thru me at the European Challenge Cup events in the '80 s. Was active at European Championship events, World Cup events and Worlds Championships. As a friend I personally want to thank Eddy now, for all the work he did and experience he transferred to others, now active at the same positions as Eddy was himself, here in Europe. After ending his work in 2001, the Worlds was the first time since then that he saw a BMX race again.

Because of back problems, Eddy has to walk on crutches now a days, but for the rest he is the same man as before. We all wish him the very best and a good health for him and his wife. Good luck Eddy and again thanks for all your work.

REDOIS Xavier (France)

xavier redois 1984Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Xavier started racing BMX early 1979 and can be considered one of the pioneer BMX racers of France and leaded the way for a long period of time.

He never won a European and/or World title in the highest level class, however he still was a leading figure in International BMX for many years, together with Claude Vuillemot and David Kastler.

xavier redois 1987Xavier is still involved in BMX due to his profession working for a bicycle company in England.

A man who had to be nominated for the European Hall of Fame of BMX.

Inducted in 2001

ROKER Mr. Renny (USA)

JAG BMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 1980

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Inducted in 2008

RUFFELL Andy (England)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Here the motivation concerning the nomination of Andy Ruffell to the European BMX Hall of Fame. Besides a pioneer top rider, Andy was a true promoter of the BMX sport during the first 8 years of BMX in Great Britain, as you can read.

Waalre-Holland, October 2007

NAME :  Andy Ruffell (born in England) 
CITY :  Las Vegas
COUNTRY :  USA
DATE OF BIRTH : 8th May 1966
E.MAIL ADDRESS : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
MARRIED : NO (Long time girlfriend Heidi Kelso (American TV Producer)

www.andyruffell.com

www.myspace.com/andyruffell

www.youtube.com/andyruffell

PROFESSION AT THIS MOMENT (explain a little about your job, has sport helped you with this?):

President / CEO A3 Networks USA – A3 is a media group with TV broadcasts in 8 million households, various web sites and production companies ( www.watchA3.com). My role is to develop the business as a whole, in particular take our TV interest's into other cities in the USA including New York and Los Angeles – then across the world.

I'm so grateful for what I learned all those years ago during my BMX career, there's the usual things you would expect like never give up and fight hard to be the best….but potentially even more than that it was that it allowed me to travel the world a few times while I was young enough to really learn about people and human nature. The biggest lesson of all is that basically we are all the same no matter what religion or where we are from.. If I had my life again I wouldn't change a thing.. BMX rules !

START OF BMX CAREER (year): 1979

MAIN RESULTS DURING THE YEARS (championships, nr. 1,2,3 spots) at

NATIONAL LEVEL :        No. 1 – 1980, 1981, 1982. 1983, 1985 (No.2 1984)

EUROPEAN LEVEL:        Not sure? Always on the road I think I missed most of the Euro races

WORLD LEVEL:             Top 5 a few times?

MEMORABLE EVENTS and RESULTS:

* UK Freestyle Champion 1982 / 3 (won every freestyle event entered)

* ScreenSport Pro Champion 1985

* World Record Bunny Hop Height – 39 inches (circa 1984)

* World Record People Hop – 36 People (1984)

* Starred in BMX The Video 1983 sold million copies worldwide

* Starred in various commercials for Kelloggs and Readybrek (UK, Europe and Africa)

* Awarded young cyclist of the year by Minister For Sport 1984

* Made over 500 TV appearances around the world

* 12,000 people attended one Andy Ruffell show in South Africa

* Made a top 30 record in 1983 ‘BMX Boys have a lot of fun'

* Won his first American BMX race in 1981 Pontiac SilverDome

WAS A MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING TEAMS:

Ammaco Mongoose 1981 – 1984, Raleigh – 1985, Ammaco Mongoose 1986

WHICH BRAND OF BIKES DID YOU RACE:

Mongoose Supergoose 2, Mongoose ProClass, Raleigh Team Pro, Mongoose Pro Class

STOPPED CAREER AS ACTIVE BMX RACER IN (year):  

1987

BEEN ACTIVE IN ANY OTHER SPORT:   

only as a hobby – Motorcycles / Snowboarding

ANY ADDITIONAL REMARKS TO BE MADE:

Andy, now 41, has also developed a significant career in television and hosted 7 series over 4 years of the nationally televised BMX Beat on the UK ITV network as well as presenting the prestigious Kellogg's BMX Championship on Channel 4 for three years. He has appeared in over 400 TV shows in the UK and around the world including two appearances on BBC Superstars and starring in various commercials for Kellogg's and Ready Brek.

Andy also founded and produced several major BMX and Skateboarding events including the European BMX Freestyle Championships and the world-renowned ‘Holeshot' event, which brought together the world's best BMX riders and Skateboarders – a forerunner to the modern ‘X Games' – all with international TV coverage.

In 1987 he decided to retire from competitive sport and developed his next career behind the camera as a producer at London's BiG Group Communications Agency. Over the next few years he produced a wide range of award winning entertainment programs and documentaries around the world including Asia and North and South America for clients including British Airways, Johnnie Walker, Cathay Pacific and Cunard Line.

In 1995, Andy undertook one of his greatest challenges when after a chance meeting with Kanya King they created and launched the MasterCard MOBO Awards – now one of the world's largest televised urban music events. The event has just celebrated its 10 th anniversary and is broadcast nationally on BBC1 in the UK and in 20 countries across the globe. Since launching The MOBO Awards, the parent company has grown to include TV Production, Publishing, and Music and Internet divisions.

Ruffell is also Founder and CEO of ‘DanceStar' – the global dance music awards platform. It is an event concept developed across three continents with the first DanceStar show – ‘The World Dance Music Awards' taking place on June 1st 2000 at London's Alexandra Palace. It was broadcast on the UK's Channel 4 network and various territories around Europe reaching over 100 million households worldwide.

March 2002 saw the launch of DanceStar USA – The American Dance Music Awards that took place at the prestigious Jackie Gleason Theatre in the dance ‘Mecca' of South Beach, Miami. It became the most talked about event of 2002. The 2003 show took place live on the sands of Miami Beach and was seen in 54 countries across the world – the most watched electronic music show in history…

Andy has now Created, Produced and Exec Produced more than 18 world class televised award shows and over 50 other event, TV and video projects around the world in places as diverse as Kuwait, Hong Kong, Venezuela and mid Atlantic on the QE2.

Andy's events have featured some of the world's biggest names in music and entertainment including, 50 Cent, Destiny's Child, Tina Turner, P.Diddy, Diana Ross, Ja Rule, Lenny Kravitz, Juliette Lewis, Lionel Richie, R.Kelly, Dionne Warwick, Moby, Boy George, Bootsy Collins, BB King, Bono, The Edge, Fatboy Slim, George Benson, Kool & The Gang, Santana, Jay-Z and Tony Blair.

The future looks good for Andy Ruffell with his consultancy company advising US and European corporations on televised event development, he is President and CEO of A3 Networks, a TV channel in south Florida which is about to expand across the USA. Also three new globally televised events are in development with major broadcasters including a Latin Version of DanceStar.

Andy has now based his operations in Miami and New York with AR Consulting Inc encompassing Music, TV and Radio Projects.  

Thanks Andy for completing this form. GD.

 

Press Release (November 2005)

"Old Skooler ANDY RUFFELL scoring in the USA with his Music Awards programm and.... showing he is proud of his BMX background. Very well done ANDY"


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Gallery

Andy_Ruffell_1984 1983_Andy_Ruffellandy_ruffell_tabletop

RUPE Eric (USA)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Inducted in 2011

RUSHTON Alan (England)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Together with Geoff Wiles and Malcom & Sue Jarvis, Alan Rushton introduced, started organising and promoting BMX in England.

SCHADOWSKI Rainer (Germany)

Special recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Rainer-Schadowski-2003-Old-Skool-Reunion-Dessel

Rainer started riding BMX bikes in 1980 and competed in an official event for the first time in 1982. He was one of the first German BMX'ers to travel with Gerrit Does to events in the USA in the early '80s.

Together with his Dad, Rainer started a BMX shop called "Rainer's Bike Shop". This shop still exists today. Since a couple of years, an Old Skool reunion takes place in Weiterstadt - Germany around September and among others, Rainer is one of the organisers of this event.

Rainer still rides his bike ('80's) once and a while.

As a leading, pioneer racer in the early days his nomination is a form of respect for the pioneer work he did.

Inducted in 2001

STAFF Jamie (England)

Jamie-Staff- EC2003-Cheddar1996 World Champion

1995 European Champion

1996 World Cup Winner
1995 World Cup Winner

Jamie Staff came to check out the races and hand out the trophies in Cheddar.

ŠTROMBERGS Māris (Latvia)

2008 first ever Olympic BMX Champ Maris Stromberg2012 Olympic Champion
2008 Olympic Champion

2010 World Champion
2008 World Champion

2014 European Champion
2013 European Champion
2008 European Champion

2010 Supercross World Cup

Sunn Chippie (France)

1991 World Championship Team

Team Members:

  • Christophe Leveque
  • Florent Poussin
  • Jean Christophe Tricard

Team Manager:

  • Max Commencal


Team GT Europe (Holland)

1996 & 1994 World Championship Team

Riders of the winning team were:

  • Dale Holmes
  • Robert Sprokholt
  • Corine Dorland
  • Gundars Osis
  • Vlasdislav Khas
  • Nicolas Grevet

Other team members were:

  • Robert de Wilde
  • Fred LeGall
  • Thierry Fouilleul

Team Manager:

  • Gerrit Does

VRIJDAG Louis (Holland)

Gerrit-Does-left-and-Louis-Vrijdag-rightSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

As you can read from the History of BMX, Gerrit Does discovered BMX in the USA in 1974 and imported the sport in Europe, more specific Holland in the first place.

Louis Vrijdag has been instrumental getting the sport organised in Holland together with Gerrit Does in the early days.

Gerrit Does has been instrumental getting an international organisation of the the ground called the I.BMX.F. , now integrated into the UCI. Louis Vrijdag was instrumental integrating I.BMX.F. into the UCI which took about 6 years to realise all together.

Gerrit has been involved in BMX up and till 1998 (since 1974 meaning 25 years of involvement) and Louis Vrijdag up and till 1999 (since 1978 meaning 21 years of involvement) working for the KNWU (National Cycling Fed.) and the UCI (president BMX committee UCI). Both men have been crucial for National and International developments up and till the '90s.

Louis-Vrijdag-left-and-Gerrit-Does-right-having-lunchFour still active manufacturers of BMX bikes and parts have been inducted into the European BMX Hall of Fames in the year 2003. All of them were pioneers in their fields in international European BMX. They were trend setters and instrumental in developing BMX equipment from the early days on up till now. They helped initiating the sport and its products within the European market and on.

WILDE de Robert (Holland)

Robert-de-Wilde1999 World Champion

2000 European Champion
1999 European Champion

2007 Supercross World Cup
2005 Supercross World Cup

2003 World Cup Winner
1999 World Cup Winner

wc perth2003 robert dewildeRobert de Wilde (GT) posing with  UnivofBMX Staff Member Nico van Dartel

WILES Geoff (England)

1982 Geoff Wiles, UK.BMX - EnglandSpecial recoqnition European Hall of Fame

Together with Sue & Malcom Jarvis and Alan Rushton, Geoff Wiles introduced, started organising and promoting BMX in England.

ZUIJLEN van Pierre (Holland)

1986 European Champion
1986 European Champion (24")

Special note:

Pierre van Zuijlen (NL) is one of only 3 riders that succeeded in winning a 20 and 24 inch European Championship title in one year during the 19 years of European BMX Championships. The orther 2 are Christophe Leveque (FR) and Eric Minozzi (FR).