North Island glory and Aussie scalps
BMX - GISBORNE BMX riders were in top form at the North Island championships and transtasman tests at Rotorua.

Abby Fox (senior girls) and Lewis Smith (senior boys) and Jessie Smith and Krystal Smith (junior girls) helped their respective New Zealand teams to emphatic wins over their Australian counterparts.

The NZ Mighty 11s team, captained by Jessie Smith, were unlucky not to make it a clean sweep.

New Zealand high performance rider Monique Smith, capped an outstanding event for Gisborne when she won the elite super class and was second in the elite women’s division.

The club’s top rider, New Zealand representative Nick Fox, was unable to compete due to injury. His young sister Abby added to her team success with a second in the 15 years girls’ division.

Lewis Smith also rode well to finish runner-up in the 14yrs boys’ class.

Sister Jessie was named the outstanding female rider, with Olympic medallist Sarah Walker making special mention of her talent.

Other Gisborne riders to make finals were Taylah Pragnell, who was third in the 11yrs girls division, while Gemma Hills was fourth after a big tumble in the final.

Gemma’s sister Cate was fifth in the 8yrs girls final.

Jono Sargison, competed in the 10yrs boys class, made his first final. He qualified second and was sixth in the final.

James McManus, in the same class, was 10th overall in the semis and missed the final by just one spot.

Ruby-Anne Smith (7yrs) did not drop a lap all weekend but had to settle for fourth in the final.

King Maxwell (9yrs) capped a solid performance with sixth in his final.

Zane Rogers was third in the 11-12yrs cruiser class.

Judy Halley rode well for third in the 30-plus women’s 20-inch class and ninth in the cruiser division after a heavy crash in one of her motos.

Ethan Rogers picked up sixth in his 15-16yrs cruiser class and just missed the cut in the 20-inch class.

There was a good duel between Gisborne riders Kristy McKinnon and Kacey Rogers in the 17-29yrs 20-inch and 13-29yrs cruiser classes.

Honours were shared with McKinnon eighth in the 20-inch and fifth in the cruiser finals and Rogers fourth in the 20-inch and sixth in the cruiser.

Chris Fox raced strongly all weekend to place sixth in the 17-29yrs 20-inch final.

Riders are back in competitive action at a national qualifying meeting on their home track on November 24 and 25.

Abby Fox and Lewis Smith head to Nerang, Australia in the new year for the return leg of the transtasmen series.

Twilight BMX starts on October 29, with sign-on at 5.30 and racing from 6pm.

OTHER GISBORNE RESULTS FROM THE NORTH ISLAND CHAMPS — 5yrs mixed: Matt Hills 12th.

7yrs boys: Brayden Maxwell 10th,

9yrs boys: Josh Lardelli 22nd, Hayden Pragnell 24th, Olivier Hilliard 25th.

12yrs boys: Dylan Lardelli 17th.

17-29yrs men, 20-inch: Gary Graham 19th.

30-39yrs men, 20-inch: Tim Smith 5th.

30yrs+, 20-inch: Tracey Panton 4th.

40yrs-plus men, 20-inch: Barry Rogers 10th, Shane Pragnell 15th.

45-49yrs men, cruiser: Buck Rogers 10th, Robert Graham 13th.

GIZZY AND PROUD: The Gisborne BMX Club contingent who competed at the North Island championships in Rotorua are, front row (from left): Dylan Lardelli, King Maxwell, Joshua Lardelli, Brayden Maxwell, Ruby-Anne Smith, Matt Hills, Hayden Pragnell, Cate Hills, Olivier Hilliard. Middle row: Barry Rogers, Tim Smith, Zane Rogers, James McManus, Jono Sargison, Taylah Pragnell, Gemma Hills, Buck Rogers, Shane Pragnell. Back: Kacey Rogers (obscured) Tracey Panton, Taylor Smith, Gary Graham, Kristy McKinnon, Ethan Rogers, Jude Halley, Chris Fox, Rob Graham. Picture supplied
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