Gisborne to host winter series round

DEBUT TRIP: Six-year-old Walker Wallis rides the course at Rotorua, his first out-of-town meet. Picture supplied

GISBORNE BMX Club will host riders from around the central North Island on Sunday for a round of the central region winter series. Twelve Gisborne club riders attended the series opening round in Rotorua last month.

The series comprises a round in each of the central region tracks. After Gisborne, meets are planned for Tauranga (August 7), Hawke’s Bay (August 28) and possibly Taupo, where a planned meet was rained off.

At the Rotorua meet, five-year-old Brad O’Connell-Bacon rode well. His best finish was second and he had a few third placings.

Six-year-old Walker Wallis, in his first out-of-town meet, also rode well. He managed a few top-four places and improved as the day progressed.

Aliyah Lardelli, 7, had a tough day against some fast riders but had some good finishes.

Brother Dylan Lardelli rode in the junior super class, and after five motos was in third place and hoping to gain some points in his home round. During age-group racing, Dylan took the chance to get in extra practice for the super class and put in some good racing.

Ruby-Anne Smith had good battles with a long-time rival, finishing second in age-group racing and mid-pack in junior girls’ super class. Big sister Krystal Smith also picked up seconds and thirds in age-group racing, battling with Stevi Lee from Hawke’s Bay.

The Pragnell family had father Shane riding, along with Taylah and Hayden. All three riders had mid-pack finishes and will look forward to racing on their home track.

Kate McCosh joined Krystal Smith and Taylah Pragnell in the age-group racing, and rode well.

Racing in the Gisborne round of the series starts at midday on Sunday. Any updates can be found on the Gisborne BMX Facebook page.