BMX: Drawcard Walker wows the crowds

New Zealand Olympic Silver medallist Sarah Walker drew the crowds to Whangarei's Pohe Island BMX track at the weekend and they weren't disappointed as the Kawerau rider took out the UCI Elite series.

"It was great to have Sarah [Walker] here," Bike Northland co-ordinator Stuart Bell said.

"She brought her medal with her and was very generous with her time about posing for photos," .

While Walker may have been a hit, many spectators were impressed with the fast pace and intensity of the racing.

While Walker was too good on Saturday, Gisborne's Monique Smith proved how strong the competition was at the North Island event by beating Walker yesterday to win the Elite Superclass series.

Another Kiwi Olympian, Kurt Pickard, won the double, taking the elite men's UCI series on Saturday and the Men's Elite Superclass series yesterday.

Saturday's conditions were near perfect for racing but a strong crosswind yesterday caused problems for a few riders, particularly in the senior classes, in which the riders go faster and jump higher.

Bell said there had been a noticeable improvement in quality of competition since the club's last big national event when it hosted the 2009 nationals.

"I think the level has gone up significantly because of the access we now have to the modern tracks in New Zealand and it's great because we're setting ourselves up for further success at the Olympics," he said.

Whangarei was one of the first cities in the country to install an international-standard track and Bell said it has given the local club a much-needed boost by being able to attract the elite riders to events like the one it had hosted at the weekend.

Meanwhile, in the juniors, New Zealand teams won three out of four series against the Australians.

New Zealand won both the senior boys and girls under-14/15 events while the Kiwi girls Mighty 11 team beat their transtasman rivals while the Aussies just shaded the boys in their Mighty 11 test.

Whangarei's Jacob Romer competed in the Mightly 11s with some success over the two days of racing and Bell said the consequences of competing at the event in front of his home crowd and club members would inspire him to bigger and better things.