Rigorous week-end for BMX riders

Press, 21 January 1984, Page 3

Rigorous week-end for BMX riders

Provided the weather remains fine, more than the usual amounts of dust will be flying at the Cass Street, Kaiapoi, track as more than 540 BMX riders go through their paces in the next two days. The occasion is the Vitafresh Supersport Summer BMX Internationals, and the event has attracted several Australian entries.

Today’s programme is a busy one. In addition to the 321 motos, or races, planned, there will be proam events for riders 16 years and over. Tomorrow, . the semifinals, and finals will be contested, with a special

mid-afternoon celebrity race featuring the All Black forward, John Ashworth; the New Zealand Maoris Rugby League representative,, Russell Tuuta; the Worcestershire cricket professional, Damian D’Oliveira, who plays for East Shirley in Christchurch club cricket; the South Island sprint car champion, Roger Gleason; an American midget car driver, David Pugsley; Robin Hampton, well known in speedway circles; and Merv Ward, an announcer with a Christchurch radio station.

Darren Wilcock, of the Hornby club, is one of Canterbury’s best hopes in the

pro-am section. He has won the TVNZ challenge for the last two years, and there will be much interest to see if he measures up to the overseas opposition. Two vastly experienced Aucklanders, Brent Harris and Colin May, ranked one and two in New Zealand, will also be keen to take the section for 20in bikes and so claim the $250 prizemoney. The Central Wairarapa club has several' talented riders in its junior ranks, with Callum Daniell, the winner of the summer nationals in his age groups for the. last three years, among them. He will com-

pete in the 10 years class.

Three Bishopdale riders, Michael Neville, Shane Gibson, and Adam Wickes, should perform with credit in the 17 years and over expert section, while Rodney Pohio, of the host club, Kaiapoi, will have the advantage of knowing the track when he competes in the 16 years class. Judy Bennett, of Ashburton, a national title-holder, will be one of the favourites in the 16 years and over section.

The event is the richest staged in the South Island, with prize-money in the proam section totalling $2230.