Walker returns to track to claim North Island honours

Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker was back into action when she took out the North Island BMX titles in Whangarei over Labour Weekend.

Walker, who had a lengthy break after her medal-winning performance in London, cruised through the qualifying motos with two wins and second before claiming the final over talented Gisborne teenager Monique Smith and New Plymouth’s Victoria Hill.

Her London teammate Kurt Pickard, recovered from injuries he received in the Olympic competition, won the elite men’s competition.

Like Walker, the Tauranga rider won two of the three qualifying heats and claimed the final ahead of Cambridge rider Kurt James with Christchurch’s Daniel Franks third.

The junior men’s title went to Australian Corey Frieswyk over Cody Hobbs (Te Awamutu) and Queensland’s Kerrod Connors.

Pickard also took out the superclass competition on the following day, completing an unbeaten run in his three motos and all three final races, as well as the Cruiser class title.

Franks, after two fifth placings, managed an excellent second place in the third final. With James, second to Pickard in the opening two finals, slipping to last in the third final after a fall, Franks managed to claim runner-up spot overall.

Smith, a former world age group medallist, gave a glimpse of her talent when she won the Superclass title.

Walker’s involvement ensured minimum start numbers were achieved but she was content to allow the up-and-comers to have their chance, settling instead for minor placings.

However the former world champion returned to easily take out the cruiser class honours.

New Zealand’s five medallists from this year’s world championships were all on the podium, led by Rico Bearman (Waitakere City), the world champion, who won the nine years class.

Three world championship silver medallists were to the fore, including Caitlin Flavell (Rotorua) who won the seven years final, Rebecca Petch (Te Awamutu) who took out the 14 years title, and Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Rotorua) who was second in the eight years boys.

World number three Ryan Martin (Cambridge) won the 10 years title.

There was plenty of competition in the age group ranks as New Zealand riders prepare for a major summer of racing towards the highlight for the sport’s history in this country when they host the UCI BMX World Championships at Vector Arena in Auckland next July.

Cambridge proved the most successful club with six titles in both BMX and Cruiser classes ahead of Rotorua with five while Hamilton and Te Awamutu shared three each.

However the breadth of talent was evident with the 40 titles spread between 19 New Zealand clubs with one going to Australia.