World champion to lead New Zealand Mighty 11s BMX team

World champion Leila Walker from Cambridge will lead the New Zealand team into the annual Mighty 11s Test series against Australia.

Walker was named as captain of the girls’ team after winning the trial final on the first day of the New Zealand BMX National Championships at the Sunset Coast Club in Puni near Pukekohe today.

The boys’ team will be captained by Tauranga’s Karepa Heke Raiawha took out the final after a close battle with Auckland’s James Whyte (Mountain Raiders).

Walker won out in the girls from Megan Williams (Rotorua), Brooke Penny (Te Awamutu) and Caitlin Flavell (Rotorua) who will form the girls team to take on Australia.


Leila Walker in action at the world championships last year. Photo courtesy of Sports Media NZ

Heke Raiawha is joined by Whyte, Logan Hall (Cambridge) and Daniel Butterworth (Rotorua) in the boys.
The 11 year test takes place in Australia in June.

The Mighty 11s  trials opened the national championships with more than 900 riders competing over the weekend.

The Cruiser class, for larger 24in diameter wheels, took place this afternoon, with the competition for 12 years and under on Saturday and over 12 years on Sunday.