Some of the best tricksters in BMX battled it out in Whangarei for a special trophy in memory of teenager Ben Brown, who died of meningococcal disease.
Ben, 18, died in August last year two days after being diagnosed with an upper respiratory tract infection and sent home from
Whangarei Hospital's emergency department.
He had a passion for BMX riding and, according to those in the sport, the 18-year-old had the talent to go professional.
A month after his death the idea of a BMX jam in his memory was mooted, and on Saturday it came to fruition at the Riverside Skate Park in Whangarei. About 100 riders took part in the event - the Whangarei BB Jam - showing off their extraordinary skills to an appreciative crowd.
One of the event organisers Kim Reyburn, of MyBike, said several riders from Auckland made the trip north to compete.
"It was a pretty big day and there were some tears, too," Ms Reyburn said. "Ben was one of Northland's top BMX freestyle cyclists. The skate park was Ben's life. He had the potential to go on and turn professional ... he was that good."
