Rotorua’s Dan Butterworth retained his New Zealand Pump Track title after a weekend of high quality racing staged at the new Velosolutions track in Hawkes Bay.
After winning the inaugural championships in Christchurch last year, the international pump track rider was able to hold off Southland’s Nick Cowie, a talented BMX rider, who impressed in his first year elite, providing a stern test for the winner.
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The women’s elite competition was added this year, with former world-ranked MTB downhill rider, Shania Rawson from Bay of Plenty dominating in some exciting action at the Hawkes Bay BMX Club’s facility in Havelock North.
Rawson, third overall in the Queen of Crankworx global MTB competition, was able to hold off talented young Christchurch rider, Cassien Lewis in the Big Final.
Rawson also dominated Saturday’s Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championship qualifier, working through to the final where she again accounted for Lewis in the Big Final, with Holly Oldham from Alexandra claiming third place.
While Rawson struck the double in the women, Butterworth found himself edged out by highly-rated Australian rider, Josh Jolly in the elite men’s Big Final after a tight battle with just half a second separating the pair. Southland’s Nick Cowie finished third, winning the small final over Mark Gilbert.
The winners of Saturday’s elite finals will contest the Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships, to be held in Durban, South Africa in November.
Results NZ Pump Track Nationals: Elite females, Big Final: Shania Rawson 17.99, 1; Cassien Lewis 19.08, 2. Small final: Holly Oldham 3. Round of 4: Rawson 17.89, 1; Lewis 18.94, 2; Oldham 19.06, 3.
Elite Male, Big final: Daniel Butterworth 15.89, 1; Nick Cowie 16.14, 2.
50 Plus Big Final: Rick Houghton 18.36, 1; Blair Rendle 20.08, 2. 30 Plus Big Final: Jake Robinson17.90, 1; Mikey McCallum 18.25, 2. 17 Plus Big Final: Mark Gilbert 18.16, 1; Max Williams 18.77, 2. 15-16 Boys Big Final: Tom Coleman 17.52, 1; Tennyson Wiffin 18.63, 2. 13-14 Boys Big Final: Noah Evans 17.75, 1; Cael Smith 18.08, 2. 10-11 Boys Big Final: Sam Maisey 19.08, 1; Max Olsen 19.40, 2. Boys Under 10 Big Final: Roman Thompson 20.07, 1; Jackson Ropati 20.21, 2. Women Finals: 17 Plus: Caitlin Georgantas 19.66, 1. 13-14 years: Hollie Tibble 19.78, 1. 10-12 years: Micah Wallace 20.94, 1.