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Champbikx BMX Series #3 - 3
Melba, ACT, Australia, March 4, 2006
National BMX Champ beats American World Champ
By Sharon Payne
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Australian National BMX Champion, Luke Madill won the UCI Series in Canberra today after avoiding a pile up halfway in the race. The Australian High Performance rider from Cranebrook, Penrith, avoided the crash which saw leading rider, two times World Champion, American rider, Kyle Bennett (Texas) fall. Bennett came down, taking down series leader, Wade Bootes (Gold Coast) and previous round winner, Michael Robinson (Greenbank) from Brisbane.
High Performance Squad members, Jamie Gray (Beenleigh) from Brisbane and South Australian, Michael Fenwick (Woodcroft) placed second and third respectively. Fenwick recently returned from the USA three weeks ago and had praise for the standard of Australian racing.
The 31 year-old Bootes, still maintains the series lead by staying just one point ahead of New Zealand’s Marc Willers. Madill’s win moves him up into fourth place but still 5 points down on Gray.
In the semi-finals, another crash in the same location ended hopes of a final for New Zealand riders, Tony Wilcock, Brett Scruse from Sydney and Canberra’s Leigh Darrell (Evatt). Darrell slid off the track and missed his chance of making the final. Queensland's, Kama Kazi (Jimboomba) also got a poor run in the semi-finals but will race in the Open ACT Championships on through to Sunday.
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The World Mountain Cross Champion, Jill Kintner showed her skills are shaping up when she took out the Elite Women’s UCI round. Brisbane’s Renee Junga (Capalaba) had the unluckiest start after pulling her foot saw her hit the ground just metres from the start gate. Tanya Bailey (Waneroo) rode herself into 3rd after strong performances all day.
Junior Men were highly competitive with Todd Pascoe (Kelso) from Townsville talking out final race and retaining his series lead. Second was Blake Scholfield (Waneroo) from Perth and South Australia’s, Matthew Willoughby (Happy Valley) finished third.
Strong high performance rider, Melissa Mankowski (Moranbah) from Central Queensland dominated the final race with Ziggy Callan (Lillydale) from Victoria in third and New Zealander, Sarah Walker (Kawerau).
Riders now prepare for the next UCI Series and Champbikx Series in New Zealand next weekend. The National Championships in Adelaide on 4-7 May is the next major Australian event.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Damien Breach/www.damianbreach.com
- Jill Kintner from the USA was in town to take the win
- Michael Fenwick, flying thru the air
- Sitting down on the job
- One of the support races with some close elbow rubbing action
- Melissa Mankowski leading the pack
- Too young to race the UCI round, Carlione Buchanan still showed who boss
- Renne Junga showing off her World # 2 plate
- Shutting down a pass from Wade Bootes
- World # 2 Kyle Bennett from the USA signs some autographs in a break in action
- Terry Scarr from Liverpool looking smooth through the rhythm section
- Michael Fenwick appearing again
- Leigh Darryl from the ACT in action
- Kama Kazi riding like his namesake
- Luke Madill all alone at the front
- It wasn’t all good for Michael 'Tiger' Robinson - rolling to the finish after mishap
- The UCI Elite Men's final into the first turn
Results
Elite Men (29 Riders) 1 Luke Madill (Australia) 2 Jamie Gray (Australia) 3 Michael Fenwick (Australia) 4 Brian Kirkham (Australia) 5 Marc Willers (New Zealand) 6 Wade Bootes (Australia) 7 Michael Robinson (Australia) 8 Kyle Bennett (United States Of America) Elite Women (6 Riders) 1 Jill Kintner (United States Of America) 2 Renee Junga (Australia) 3 Tanya Bailey (Australia) 4 Krystal Cranfield (Australia) 5 Lisa Horlor (New Zealand) 6 Tanya Thiele (Australia) 14 Girls (5 Riders) 1 Kirsten Dellar (Australia) 2 Jade Parker (Australia) 3 Krystal Russon (Australia) 4 Katrina Durso (Australia) 5 Olivia Mcintosh (Australia) 14 Boys (12 Riders) 1 Adam Sanderson (Australia) 2 Ryan Faux (Australia) 3 Jacob Page (Australia) 4 Jamie Welhan (Australia) 5 Brendan Abel (Australia) 6 Joshua Wallis (Australia) 7 Corey Hewitson (Australia) 8 Kevin Watson (Australia) 15 Boys (12 Riders) 1 Sam Willoughby (Australia) 2 Joshua Callan (Australia) 3 Michael Chasteauneuf (Australia) 4 Blake Collins (Australia) 5 Kurt Nicholls (Australia) 6 Justin Braybon (Australia) 7 Anthony Dean (Australia) 8 Justin Myers (Australia) 16 Girls (10 Riders) 1 Caroline Buchanan (Australia) 2 Rachel Bracken (15G) (Australia) 3 Grace Ireland (Australia) 4 Caetlyn Hubert (Australia) 5 Cherie Simpson (15G) (Australia) 6 Ceilidh O'sullivan (Australia) 7 Alyce Patroni (Australia) DNS Caitlyn Ward (Australia) 16 Boys (20 Riders) 1 Dirk Winter (Australia) 2 Ashley Mccutcheon (Australia) 3 Ben Davis (Australia) 4 Luke Bracken (Australia) 5 Steven Janssen (Australia) 6 Tye Booker (Australia) 7 Nicholas Cameron (Australia) 8 Masahiro Sampei (Japan) Junior Women (5 Riders) 1 Melissa Mankowski (Australia) 2 Ziggy Callan (Australia) 3 Sarah Walker (New Zealand) 4 Susan Kirkham (Australia) 5 Angela Wooding (Australia) Junior Men (26 Riders) 1 Todd Pascoe (Australia) 2 Blake Schofield (Australia) 3 Matthew Willoughby (Australia) 4 Shaun Craven (Australia) 5 Ashley Pemberton (Australia) 6 James Dixon (Australia) 7 Thomas Hubert (Australia) 8 Daniel Stocks (Australia)
