The dust has finally settled following the Worlds some dreams were realised while others were left on the track at the Vector Arena.
New Zealand had its biggest contingent of riders ever to compete at a Worlds with 844 riders not to forget the many riders who are NZ riders but where representing their homeland. All with pride and all giving 100% effort.
Kiwi riders claimed 12 world titles, another 26 podium places and 46 more made finals in virtually every class from six and under boys to the 45 years and over Cruisers.
The majority of the success came in the Challenge age group classes, but there were successes in the elite level too, with Marc Willers finishing second in elite men – his best World Championship result – and Hannah Sarten claiming a bronze medal in junior women. Hannah also rode well in the Time Trial finishing as 2nd quickest and just missing podium in the Super Time trial to take 4th spot.
Four riders stood on the podium twice during the championships. Hamilton’s Cailen Calkin won the 12 year boy’s class and 24 hours later was runner up in the 12 and Under Cruiser.
Rangiora’s Tahlia Hansen finished runner-up in the 16 Girls class and then won the 16 and Under
Cruiser.
Auckland’s Adam Coker won the 25-29 years men’s 20 inch class and then had a great battle for second in the same age group Cruiser class
Maynard Peel from the Puni-based Sunset Coast club was third in the 14yrs 20” class and then went on to also take 3rd in the 13-14 years Cruiser.
In the 5-7yrs NZ riders took half of the spots in the final with Sam Cannon (2) and Rory Meek (3).
Auckland’s Mountain Raiders Club rider Sacha Earnest was the youngest female rider to win the girls 5 to 7 years’ division. With Sage Pienega in 2nd place.
Rotorua’s Wyatt Stevens-McNabb who earlier took a heavy crash and was stretchered off recovered sufficiently to take the 3rd spot in the 7yrs Boys showing great courage.
Leila Walker from Cambridge took the eight year girl’s honours from defending champion Grace Stevenson of the USA. Walker had set her sights on the World 1 plate after winning the national title on her home track at Easter NZ riders also took up 2 other of the final spots.
Tipene Kennedy from Kapiti also had a standout performance to take the 2 spot riding solidly all day. 3 Riders NZ also made up the 8yrs boys final.
Rotorua’s fine performance continued with 9yr girl W2 going to Megan Williams who also has a dream to go to the Olympics one day. Jenna Hastings also rode well to join her on the podium in 3rd place.
And local crowd favourite Lachlan Stevens McNabb from Rotorua took the 9 year boys in exciting racing. NZer James Whyte also rode exceptionally well to join him on the podium in the 2nd spot. Again was a half NZ final!
10 Boys age group while not quite podium Jack Keown still rode well for a W4 Spot.
Maia Coleman-Savage in the 10 year girls. Maia lives in Australia but still has New Zealand citizenship. Coleman - Savage went through the meet unbeaten, winning her three qualifying motos and then a semi-final, before using more speed off the last corner to come from behind and overtake French girl and defending champion Francesca Cingolani.
Cambridge’s Ryan Martin who was riding for Great Britain rode exceptionally all day beating defending champion Julian Dittrick of the USA. With Cambridge club mate well to also take podium in the 3rd spot. Mason James also rode Rangiora’s Ella Hansen was the sole 11yr old representative in the final to take a 6th place.
Gisborne’s Jessie Smith rode exceptionally well in the 12yr girls to take the title having finished twice at the Adelaide and South African Worlds in 2009 and 2010. Joining her on the podium was Hamilton speedster Kaly Harcourt.
13yr boys had Taupo’s Logan Hirst in 6th place and Rangiora’s Liam Goodwin in 8th both doing well to make the final in a hugely competitive class.
13yr girls also was not without a NZer with Chelsea Coleman-TeHiko in the W7 spot.
14yr Boys Maynard Peel from the Puni-based Sunset Coast club was third in both the 14 boys drawing the least favoured outside start lane and finishing third after being unbeaten in his three motos and the eighth, quarter and semi-finals. Jayden Fleming also rode solidly to take out the W5 spot.
14 yrs girls had Tauranga rider Shania Rawson take out the W6 spot after some great riding by her.
15yr boys final was a crash fest with the whole field going down on the first turn including kiwi Bayley Rees but another extremely tough class he did so well to make the final and taking out 8th place after his crash.
15yr girls Zoe Fleming who rode exceptionally well to take out the podium position of W2 and also riding strongly was Te Awamutu’s Rebecca Petch finishing narrowly off the podium to take W4.
17-24yr men’s class was all class with many of ex-elite riders opting to ride this class with the change in UCI rules so the calibre of the racers was very high. Mainlander Cayleb Martin did exceptionally well to take out the W2 spot in an awesome display of riding as did Rotorua’s Zander Steel to take out the W6 spot. Unlucky to crash was North Harbour’s Andrew Bias who had to settle for the W8 spot however his riding was of a high standard all day.
25-29yr men’s class belonged to Adam Coker who rode to victory taking out W1 with ease NZ riders Jason Kelly and John Hayes also rode well showing pro skills of old to make this hard fought final.
30+ men was nearly an all Kiwi final with probably the best riding of the night displayed in this class. Tony Wilcox (Baked Beans) was too strong in the end taking the title but nothing can be taken away from this star studded final, Mike Reader (Boof) also did well to make podium and take W3.
17+ women was also a classy field for the same UCI rule changes as the Men, with Shannon Alexander narrowly missing the podium in 4th place and Nicole Sarten in 7th place.
Daniel Bowers-Wilson rode the ride of his life to take out W3 spot in the 15-16 Cruiser men class. This is also a very tough class with high calibre riders displaying some amazing riding.
16 and under girls Cr class was well represented by Kiwis with Tahlia Hansen taking out the world title and Rebecca Petch in the W2 spot . Gisborne’s Abby Fox in the W5 spot and young 12yr old Jessie Smith doing so well to take the W6 spot.
17-29 womens Cr class also belonged to Kiwis with 4 in the final Nicole Wright in the W2 spot and Holly Woodcock-Takarua in the W4 spot, New Plymouths Melissa Were in 7th and following a heavy crash Papakura’s Alice Rika in W8 spot.
Te Awamutu’s Cameron Petch was the sole Kiwi in the 17-24 mens cr class finishing in the W5 spot. Adam Coker battled to the very end in the 25-29 mens Cr class narrowly missing the first place to take a double banger but he still rode superbly to take W2 and Tony Surrey did well to take W5 spot.
Vanessa Quin from Tauranga, who returned full circle to BMX after she became the first New Zealander to win a World Elite Championship in downhill mountain bike in 2004 before also dabbling with track cycling took out the 30+ Cr womens class and it was a Kiwi dominated final with no less than 5 kiwi women in this final. Jeanette Davis also a recent BMX convert also joined Vanessa on the podium to take 3rd place.
Tony Wilcock may not have won the 30-34yrs mens cr final but he must have had the best dismount/crash coming up not only uninjured but on his feet and a W8 to boot.
Hawera’s Steve Shimanski refused to give in, in one of the most exciting finals of the night taking the world title in 35-39yr mens Cruiser in great style really getting the local crowd roaring with delight.
Popular Rotorua rider Dave Mohi grabbed his second world championship in the 40-44 yrs mens Cr with Richie McLauchlin also showing a clean set of heel all afternoon to join him on the Podium in the W3 spot. Both in flats too they were proud to display!
The biggest roar of the week had to go to mens 45+ mens Cr class race, following the unfortunate crash of Paul Luttrell and Ash Rawson, saw’s Rodney Jones somehow navigate through all the debris and take out the W2 spot. I swear the Vector roof nearly lifted off!
A huge well done to all taking part in this event including officials and volunteers
