Sam Pilgrim defied the odds to claim victory at the Nissan QASHQAI Challenge final in London.

The 17-year-old was resigned to a mediocre performance after falling from his bike and injuring his left wrist the day before the big event.

But he vowed to battle through the pain barrier and, as his discomfort eased, duly rose to the challenge - easily getting through his qualifier and then producing a stunning performance in the final.

Pilgrim, from Colchester, pocketed 13,000 euros - 8,000 for winning and another 5,000 for finishing fifth overall in the QASHQAI Challenge.

And afterwards he told the Gazette: "I'm so happy.

"It was an amazing day and very special feeling, especially as I injured my wrist the day before.

"At the time it didn't hurt too much and I carried on practicing.

"But it stiffened up overnight and I felt so disappointed when I woke up in the morning.

"I still wanted to take part but I very nearly phoned my family and friends to warn them not to expect too much from me, because I was in so much pain.

"Thankfully, though, it gradually felt better and better and I felt fine during practice, which was a big relief."

Freeriding is a form of mountain biking where riders take on man-made terrain to perform stunts and tricks while airborne, tackling drops, narrow platforms, jumps and landings.

The former Philip Morant School pupil booked his spot in the finals - held outside the Tate Modern on London's South Bank - after finishing third in a qualifying competition in Milan.

He then finished second in qualifying at the weekend before wowing judges with his two runs' in the final, with big scores of 334 and 342 (both out of 500).

Among the stunts he performed were a 360 - spinning round in a circle - and backflip and he said: "I felt my first run was pretty good but, even so, I wasn't expecting such high scores.

"Then when I got an even higher score for the second, I knew I was in with a very good chance of winning but didn't want to get carried away or ahead of myself.

"I knew there was only one person who could beat me and he was the last person up.

"But he messed up one of his runs and that's when I knew I'd won.

"The adrenaline was really pumping.

"It was a brilliant feeling and definitely the highlight of my freeriding career."

Pilgrim, who was roared on by 50,000 spectators and lives in Sutton Park Avenue, Prettygate, is no stranger to freeriding success, having signalled his arrival on the international stage during 2007.

He took the European circuit by storm, notching an impressive second at the Vienna Air King event (which he won this year), plus triumphs at the Austrian King of Dirt, the KonaLes Getz jump competition, the filthy 48, the Paradise Trail slopestyle and the Winter Jam Gueviea 07.

But nothing, he felt, compared with the buzz' of beating the cream of the continent in London on Saturday.