Canterbury riders to fore

Cameron Brewster (Christchurch) leads Vinnie Keach (Dunedin) in a 25-39 men’s 20’’ race.
Cameron Brewster (Christchurch) leads Vinnie Keach (Dunedin) in a 25-39 men’s 20’’ race.
Forrester Park, in Dunedin, hosted the BMX South Island Championships at the weekend.
Forrester Park, in Dunedin, hosted the BMX South Island Championships at the weekend.
Nick Cowie (Southland) leads the way in a 12 boys race.
Nick Cowie (Southland) leads the way in a 12 boys race.
Racers leave the starting gate.
Racers leave the starting gate.
Corrina Lloyd (Christchurch) is all determination as she leads a 25-49 female 20’’ race.
Corrina Lloyd (Christchurch) is all determination as she leads a 25-49 female 20’’ race.

Canterbury riders  won the major titles, although a Dunedin rider was among the contenders at the South Island BMX championships.

The event, held at Dunedin’s Forrester Park over the weekend, attracted 295 riders from around the country and several from Australia.

Jono Varty (Christchurch City) and Ella Hansen (North Canterbury) won the men’s and women’s elite titles respectively.

Dunedin’s Nic Butler (left) falls with Louis Hunt, of Cambridge, during a 13-14  BMX cruiser...
Dunedin’s Nic Butler (left) falls with Louis Hunt, of Cambridge, during a 13-14 BMX cruiser class race at the South Island Championships at Forrester Park over the weekend. Avoiding the crash is Christchurch’s Jesse-James Green. Photos: Gerard O'Brien

Varty won five of his seven races, finishing comfortably ahead of second-placed Liam Goodwin.

Meanwhile, Dunedin’s Bella Wadsworth held off North Avon Christchurch’s Rayner Jackson to claim third.

She finished with 25 moto points, finishing third in four of her seven races.

Hansen showed her class to win five races and finish with nine moto points, ahead of second-placed Brooke Compain.

How the crash unfolded.
How the crash unfolded.

Meanwhile in the 17-24 male grade, Cromwell’s Josh Smith was edged by North Avon Christchurch’s Daniel Bowers-Wilson.

Smith had entered the final with one moto point on Bowers-Wilson. However, Wilson claimed the win in the one that mattered.

Alexandra’s Holly Oldham was dominant in the 15-16 girls grade, winning every race on the way to victory.

Cromwell’s Ben James was similarly dominant, winning every race as he claimed the 13 boys title.

In the male 50+ cruiser class, Dunedin’s Terry Finnerty claimed first, while Gary Smith, of Cromwell, was second.

Derek Jelgersma, also of Dunedin, claimed victory in the men’s 35-49 cruiser class.

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