from Canberra with Buchanan also taking the overall series.
Adelaide’s Brian Kirkham dominated the elite men’s racing all afternoon and won convincingly beating BMX Olympian Luke Madill from Sydney who placed second. Kirkham was elated to finally win his first ever national series title. Newcastle’s Billy Jolliffe placed third.
Under 16 and local rider, Darren Goodwin was passed by Mackay’s Adam Shields on the second berm. Goodwin however takes the series. In the Under 16 women’s race another Mackay rider, Melinda McLeod forced her way to the front and claimed the race plus the overall national series.
The biggest disappointment of the night was for World Junior Champion, Sam Willoughby, who unbalanced in the first straight. The Adelaide youngster finished a disappointing eighth place allowing fellow Adelaide rider, Anthony Dean, to claim the win and the overall series.
Sam’s brother, Matthew Willoughby, also had a disappointing night after narrowly missing out on making the elite final.
Elite riders now prepare for their prestigious National Championships race which will be held on Saturday.
Racing continues in the BMX National Championships for the next three days with the official opening held this morning. The location for the 2010 BMX National Championships was made today with Shepparton in Victoria announced as hosts for the event.
Following this weekend’s racing several of the elite riders will head overseas to race in the first round of the World Cup Supercross in Denmark.
Australia is now gearing up to host the 2009 UCI World BMX Championships in Adelaide this July.
Photo credit: bwmedia.com.au
2010 NATIONAL BMX CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD IN SHEPPARTON BMX
Australia and Greater Shepparton City Council are pleased to announce that Shepparton has been chosen to host the 2010 BMX National Championships. The announcement today coincides with the 2009 BMX National Championships currently underway in Perth. The event has attracted more than 1700 riders from all states of Australia. The national championship bid was jointly submitted by Greater Shepparton City Council and the Shepparton BMX Club – a mammoth task that had taken more than two years. Greater Shepparton Mayor, Cr Geoff Dobson said it was exciting to get this event in Shepparton. “We expect the event will bring around 5000 people to the area during the seven day competition,” Cr Dobson said. “Having this major sporting event come to Shepparton is exciting for the whole region. We will be working with our neighbouring councils as a large event like this will book out accommodation venues across many towns.”
BMX Australia President, Barry Knight, said, “Our events committee were very conscious of leaving a legacy to the sport of BMX and the proposal to build a state of the art international facility by Greater Shepparton City Council had helped to secure the bid.” Mr Knight also said that Shepparton already had played a big role in developing various cycle sports within Australia. Council’s Manager Major Events, Mark Francis, said this news was also a boost for the local BMX community with the building of a new permanent track. “The track will be built to world class standards in a similar vein to the Olympic design and once built it will make claim to being the best track in Australia,” Mr Francis said. “Given that the track will be a permanent feature in Shepparton, it will be a great facility for our local and regional entrants to practice on. “The location for the track has not yet been confirmed, but it is likely to be built to complement existing cycling facilities. “The track will look very similar to the track seen my millions of people at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “It will be approximately 350 metres long, will have four straights and include an amazing eight metre high start ramp. “It will have both professional and non-professional sections that will allow all classes of competitors to compete within their appropriate skill level. “Council will also install lighting at the track for night competitions.”
The 2010 BMX National Championships will be the first to be held in Victoria since 1998. The exact date of the championships will be confirmed in the coming weeks. For more information on the BMX National Championships visit bmxaustralia.com.au.
For more information on the Great Shepparton City Council visit greatershepparton.com.au.
For BMX media information contact Sharon Payne, Media Manager, BMX Australia, on 0412 773500
For Council media information, interviews, or for the artist’s impression of the proposed Shepparton BMX Track design contact Emma Riordan on the details below.
The final round of the Hog’s Breath Café National BMX Series in Brigadoon late yesterday saw local favourite, Bunbury’s Lauren Reynolds, win the junior women’s race claiming the overall series. The 17 year old had won six of the seven rounds in total and was also expecting to do well in her national title race on Saturday. Second was Townsville’s Rachel Bracken. In the elite women, Perth’s BMX Olympian, Nicole Callisto was outclassed by Caroline Buchanan 
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.