GISBORNE BMX Club’s national high-performance rider Nick Fox announced his arrival in the elite division with two podium placings in the North Island championships here at the weekend.
Fox, moving up from junior men, came third in the elite men and superclass divisions.
“Obviously I would like to have finished higher but making the podium was my goal for these champs so I’m reasonably happy,” the 17-year-old Gisborne Boys’ High School student said.
A missed jump in the first of the three superclass finals on day two cost Fox, who was runner-up in the second final and third after a photo-finish in the third.
“I ended up coming eighth in the first race so to get third overall after that start wasn’t too bad.”
It was a great weekend for the local club, with four North Island titles — to Monique Smith (in the junior women, as well as a second to New Zealand professional Sarah Walker in the superclass), Abby Fox (cruiser class, 13 to 29 years), Chris Fox (16yr boys) and Jessie Smith (10yr girls).
Abby Fox was also 2nd in her 14yrs class with her nemisis Tahlia Hansen taking out top spot.
Chris Fox made it a double celebration when he was named best 16-year-old rider.
Cate Hills and Ruby-Anne Smith showed their potential with third placings in the 7yr girls and 6yr girls classes.
Justin Nepia was second in the 30-39yr racing, while Tim Smith battled through pain after an accident with a nail gun at work on Thursday to finish third behind Nepia.
New Zealand also took out all but one of the transtasman series, winning the Mighty 11s, scholarship girls and senior women.
Might 11s manager Jill Smith said their victory was pretty clear-cut after close racing at the start but the scholarship girls’ division wasn’t won until the final moto (race). New Zealand were only four points ahead going into the final moto but came through to take out the series.
Gisborne BMX Club’s Caroline Fox said the weekend was an outstanding success.
“It was a lot of hard work, and we had only nine months to prepare; usually it’s two years,” said Fox, whose husband Dave is club president, linchpin and go-to man for practically everything.
But Dave Fox was quick to acknowledge the other workers.
“We couldn’t run the club or an event such as this without help from so many people,” said Dave, who, after helping set up the venue all week, was back yesterday morning with his band of helpers taking it all down again.
“We have all been running on adrenalin this past week, but especially on the two race days,” Caroline said.
“Maybe during the week we will be able to sit down, relax and reflect on what has been great not only for our club and the riders but also for the district, with the influx of riders and their families from around New Zealand and Australia.”
Six hundred riders contested the event. Gisborne had the biggest entry, 71, and 29 New Zealand clubs were represented. Australia sent 43 riders.
“Some of the Australian visitors are carrying on around the country sightseeing, which brings in more revenue for the country,” Caroline said.
The local track, one of the best in the country, looked the part. Tents, campervans, portable grandstands and riders in club and country colours all contributed to the atmosphere.
“We are very fortunate here in Gisborne,” Caroline said.
“We get huge support from our club members and their friends and local businesses.
“We had 70 sponsors. Mayor Meng Foon and his wife Ying came along. It was Ying’s first time and she couldn’t believe how well set up we were.
“Sport Gisborne’s international travel fund for the Tairawhiti Rising Legends has also been a huge help in sending our riders overseas, and the experience they receive from competing abroad is passed on to our younger riders, which is one of the reasons the club is doing so well.
“Every time we have a promotion day we get more riders turning up at the next club meet.
“The New Zealand coach, Ken Cools from Canada, also deserves credit for raising the standard of the riders.
“We now have seven-year-olds with skills that you wouldn’t normally see until they are about 10.”
Also deserving mention were the women tending the food tents, in particular Dave Fox’s mother Dianne and her sister Alison Crawford.
“Dianne was here setting up two days before the event and then from 7am on Saturday and Sunday,” said Alison, who also paid tribute to all the other helpers.
“As well as feeding the riders and their families, she had to feed the 140 officials.”
Dianne deflected the praise.
“You have to have the helpers,” she said.
“You couldn’t do it without them.”
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