Family celebrations for kiwi BMX world champions

There were double family celebrations for new kiwi world champions on the first day of the UCI BMX World Championships in Adelaide yesterday.

The championships roared into life with the first day of the Challenge World Championships for age group competitors from 5 years to 14 years at the Adelaide Showgrounds with the older age groups decided today.

The Bearman family from North Harbour celebrated when son Rico triumphed in winning the world title for the boys 5 to 6 years class and later his sister Mikayla placed fifth in the eight years division.

The six year old was inspired by the promise of a new Play Station 3, going on to win over the defending world champion, Moka Ban from Japan. The pair won the hearts of the crowd as they stood on the podium with their country flags tied around their shoulders.

The New Zealand contingent crowned another world champion when 12-year-old Tahlia Hansen from the Rangiora club in North Canterbury beat out the competition produced a superb performance to win his age group. She held off fellow New Zealander Abigail Fox from Gisborne with Waitakere’s Emma Gates just edged out of a kiwi clean sweep when she finished fourth.

The New Zealanders won eight medals on the first day of challenge racing with two gold medals, four silvers and three bronze.

Two medals went to the Gisborne club where Jessie Smith won silver in the eight years girls and Fox won silver behind Hansen in the 12 years division, while Monique was fourth in the 14 years age group.

The other silver medals went to Rebecca Petch (Te Awamutu) in the 11 years class and talented New Plymouth rider Hannah Sarten (New Plymouth) in the 13 years division, following her world title win last year.

More than 220 New Zealanders are competing in the world championships in both the Challenge and Elite classes. The Challenge classes complete racing today with elites racing tomorrow and Cruiser class for age group and elites on Sunday.

Leading New Zealand results in top five:
Female, 5-7 years: Ella Hansen (Rangiora) 3.
8 years: Jessie Smith (Gisborne) 2, Mikayla Bearman (North Harbour) 5.
9 years: Jordan Donaldson (Dunedin) 3.
11 years: Rebecca Petch (Te Awamutu) 2, Zoe Fleming (East Coast City, Auckland) 5.
12 years: Tahlia Hansen (Rangiora) 1, Abigail Fox (Gisborne) 2, Emma Gates (Waitakere) 4.
13 years: Hannah Sarten (New Plymouth) 2.
14 years: Monique Smith (Gisborne) 4, Shannon Alexander (Christchurch) 5.
Boys, 5-6 years: Rico Bearman (North Harbour) 1, Blake Pittams (Rotorua) 4.
7 years: Joshua Hearle (New Plymouth) 5.