Sarten wins world BMX title, Franks best of elites in South Africa

Young Christchurch rider Daniel Franks was the best of the New Zealand elite riders in the cruiser class finals at the UCI BMX World Championships in South Africa today.

Franks, who rides for the North Avon club, won the bronze medal in the junior men’s final of the bigger wheel diameter cruiser class at Pietermaritzburg.

It was a tame finish to the championships for defending champion Sarah Walker, who withdrew after injuring her back in the practice following her second placing in the BMX elite championships yesterday.

Not so for Taranaki’s Nicole Sarten who became the fifth kiwi world champion crowned this week when she took out the women’s 17-24 years age group today. The New Plymouth rider was pipped into fourth place in her age group final in the Challenge class finals three days ago.

There were double celebrations for the Sarten family with sister Hannah claiming the silver medal in the under-12 final, which was some compensation after she was brought down in a crash while leading the Challenge final and had to be content with seventh.

She edged out Gisborne’s Abigail Fox who grabbed the bronze medal to go with her silver in the Challenge class.

Pakakura’s Nicole Wright won the bronze in the 15-16 years final just ahead of Pukekohe’s Holly Woodcock (Sunset Coast ) while Tauranga’s Maree McGarva earned the silver medal in the 35-39 years age division as did Rotorua’s Jennifer Strachan in the 45 years plus.

The next two world championships are in Europe with Copenhagen the hosts next year and Birmingham to venue in 2012 before the championships head to New Zealand where Auckland will be the host in 2013.

BMX World Championships, Cruiser Class Results (NZ finalists):

Elite men: Renato Rezendo (BRA) 1, Andres Jiminez (COL) 2, Carlos Oquendo (COL) 3.

Elite women: Mariana Pajon (COL) 1, Romana Labounkova (CZE) 2, Vilma Rimsaite (LTU) 3.

Junior men: David Oquendo (COL) 1, Ben Clarke (AUS) 2, Daniel Franks (North Avon Chch - NZL) 3.

13-14 boys: Jordan Lecher (AUS) 1, Felippi Goncalves (BRA) 2, Bram van den Hudding (NED) 3. Also: Ryan Berney (North Harbour - NZL) 7.

40-44 years: Domingos (BRA) 1, Tim Ward (AUS) 2, Gerben Dorland (NED) 3. Also: Dave Mohi (Rotorua - NZL) 8.

Girls 12 and under: Harriet Burbridge-Smith (AUS) 1, Hannah Sarten (New Plymouth - NZL) 2, Abigail Fox (Gisborne - NZL) 3.

15-16 years: Felicia Stancil (USA) 1, Chelsea King (AUS) 2, Nicole Wright (Papakura - NZL), 3; Holly Woodcock (Sunset Coast - NZL) 4.

17-24 years: Nicole Sarten (New Plymouth - NZL) 1, Devan Searle (USA) 2, Catherine Soucaze (FRA) 3.

25-29 years: Ria Goodman (GBR) 1, Mardi Katakasi (AUS) 2, Jane Ward (AUS) 3. Also: Kerryn Rawson (Tauranga - NZL) 5.

35-39 years: Kerstin Fritscher (GER) 1, Maree McGarva (Tauranga - NZL) 2, Rika Olivier (RSA) 3.

45 plus years: Sharlene McGilvray (RSA) 1, Jennifer Strachan (NZL) 2, Liesbeth van der Jagt (NED) 3. Also: Sandra Bromwich (Cambridge - NZL) 5.