A talented contingent of Mandurah BMX Club racers will be looking for podium finishes when they hit the track in Bunbury next week for the 2018 BMX Australia National Championships.
A total 25 riders from the club will make the trek down the road to compete at the tournament, which will see the top riders qualifying to ride for Australia at the World Championships.
Mandurah will field riders across 16 different divisions, ranging from sprockets (aged 5-7) through to the 35-39 women’s age bracket.
Mandurah BMX Club president Michelle Newport said the club was thrilled to field such a large group of riders at the national event, and hoped to pull in plenty of awards.
“For us as a club it’s super exciting to be taking so many people to nationals, and it makes it easy given it’s just down the road,” she said.
“Our riders are all pretty nervous around this time, but also really keen to get on the track and race.
“We’ve got some really talented young guys competing at nationals this year, so hopefully we can grab our share of the trophies.”
This year will be the first in more than a decade that Western Australia has hosted the national championships, a feat that Newport said will help grow the sport in the state.
“To have it in Western Australia is huge for BMX locally,” she said.
“It’s definitely something we think will attract people to the sport, which is already growing at a massive rate.”
Thousands are expected to flock to Bunbury for the championships, which kick off on Monday, March 19 running through to Sunday, March 25.
It will be the first of two events to be held in WA, with BMX Australia formalising a partnership with the WA State Government to host the national titles in both 2018 and 2021.
For more information on the Mandurah BMX Club, visit their Facebook page.
Mandurah riders
- Ashlin Barton-Collins (5-7 sprocket girls)
- Bonnie Cunningham (5-7 sprockets girls)
- Ellyse Harvey (5-7 sprocket girls)
- Indi Harrison (5-7 sprocket girls)
- Jake Hose (5-6 sprocket boys)
- Jack Reid (5-6 sprocket boys)
- Max Reid (5-6 sprocket boys)
- Xavier Bell (7 sprocket boys)
- Balian Perman (7 sprocket boys)
- Seth Barker (9 boys)
- Brayden Green (10 boys)
- Chayse Armitage (11 girls)
- Flynn Lazar (11 boys)
- Kade McIntyre (11 boys)
- Eli Pantalone (11 boys)
- Katelyn Hall (12 girls)
- Aaron Jeffery (12 boys)
- Thomas Neve (12 boys)
- Kara Harrison (13 girls, 13-14 cruiser)
- Tesanee King (14 girls)
- Tahj Armitage (15 boys)
- Lillyrose Harrison (16 girls)
- Jackson Condo (16 boys)
- Christopher King (16 boys)
- Michelle Newport (35-39 women)