---

Six young athletes are being partnered with some of Australian sport’s most iconic names as part of a greatly expanded Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program.

A total of 32 young athletes from around the country will receive scholarships as part of this year’s program, which began in 2006 and is now supported by Australian Government funding from Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

Six of those young athletes, all from different sports, will each receive a $10,000 sporting grant and be personally mentored by Australian sporting champions including Olympic gold medallists, national captains and World Cup winners.

Swimmer Susie O’Neill AM, Rugby’s George Gregan AM, Cricket’s Ricky Ponting AO, Beach Volleyball’s Kerri Pottharst OAM, Cyclist Brad McGee OAM and Water Polo’s Debbie Watson OAM have put their hands up to help guide young athletes Josie Baff (NSW, 17, Snowboarding), Ari Gesini (ACT, 17, Para-Athletics), Jed Morgan (QLD, 20, Golf) Marissa Williamson (VIC, 18, Boxing), Oliver Moran (NSW, 18, BMX) and Molly Picklum (NSW, 17, Surfing).

Minister for Youth and Sport Richard Colbeck said the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program symbolised the important inspiration and legacy sport provides.
“This program is a fantastic example of how our sporting heroes of the past can continue to influence, support and inspire our champions of the future,” Minister Colbeck said.
“This group of mentors contains combined experience of 11 Olympic Games and 16 Olympic medals, World Cups victories in rugby and cricket, a yellow-jersey leader in the Tour de France. Their active sporting careers are complete, but they continue to contribute to the enduring power of Australian sport by mentoring the next generation. I thank the mentors for your leadership on this program and I wish the young athletes the very best with your sporting ambitions.”

Sport Australia Chair John Wylie AM said the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program showed the collective power of sport.
“The best part of this program is seeing mentors and scholarship holders from different sporting backgrounds come together with a shared goal to help the next generation of young elite athletes achieve sporting success,” Mr Wylie said. “Look at how a young Indigenous female boxer like Marissa Williamson has already overcome so much, but can now be mentored by Olympic gold medal beach volleyballer Kerri Pottharst. Nothing comes close to sport as a power to unite us, motivate us and inspire us.”

---

OLIVER MORAN, 17, Forster NSW

Oliver Moran has been riding BMX bikes for 13 years and is a four-time National Champion. He won the 2019 Cycling Australia BMX Junior Cyclist of the Year award. In his first year in the Junior Elite class, he placed second at the 2019 BMX World Championships and is currently ranked fourth in the UCI Junior Elite ranking.

“I was incredibly happy and honoured to find out that I had been chosen as a SAHOF recipient for the 2021 year. Having looked at past winners and seeing how far they have gone in their chosen sport is a real inspiration to make the most of this opportunity given to me. Having access to a mentor who has reached the pinnacle of his career in Brad McGee is exciting and I look forward to hearing his feedback and his experiences in Europe especially.” – Oliver Moran

“I look forward to working with Oliver as he progresses along his journey. I will dig deep to draw on and share my experiences. I expect many personal learnings as we dive into the current and future needs of a young high-performance athlete, from regional NSW, ready to take on the world. Go the green gold!” – Mentor, Brad McGee OAM

“A fantastic achievement for one of our up and coming BMX star’s to be selected as one of six young Australians in the country into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.
Oliver has a bright future ahead and to work with an athlete with the experience of Brad McGee will only help Oliver develop as an athlete. Congratulations Oliver, we are excited for what the future will bring.” – BMX Australia CEO, Shane Coppin

Scholarships would normally be presented at the annual Sport Australia Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner, however, given current restrictions, the Scholarship Holders and Mentors will be meeting virtually until circumstances change.

For the full release and more information – CLICK HERE

---

At AusCycling, we have membership packages available to suit every rider’s needs and discipline! 

Our Lifestyle membership options are tailored to individuals who want to ride for leisure, or enjoy the commute, and are available via a month-to-month no lock-in option. 

For off-road riders who love to get out and race, check out our Off-Road Race membership for BMX, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross.

Or if you’re the competitive type who enjoys all sorts of riding, explore our Race All-Discipline membership package that allows you to race; Road, Track, MTB, BMX, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross. 

For convenience, our Off-Road and All-Discipline memberships can be purchased via an annual payment plan. 

Not sure which membership is for you, then try before you buy to get a taste of racing across all disciplines with our 4 Week Free Trial!^

Our memberships will be available for purchase online from November 1, with our AusCycling staff ready to assist you in the process from Monday, November 2.

For more information, please visit https://www.auscycling.org.au/member-faq/ #LetsRideTogether 

^Only available to Non-AusCycling members and cannot be used for State/National Level Events, State & National Championships and UCI events.

COVER PIC: Courtesy of BMX Queensland

---

The BMXSA 2020 HutSix State Championships and 2020 BMX QLD State Championships kicked off a busy month of state championships with both WA and NT state championships on the horizon.

Queensland’s premier track, Sleeman Supercross, played host to over 500 riders across three days whilst Blue Lake BMX club hosted just under 300 riders on the weekend.

These state championships for both states were extremely different compared to previous years, with lots of work and effort gone into making sure both respective events went off without a hitch and that they were a Covid safe event.

A huge congratulations to both events on running their state championships in a safe and successful manner under unique circumstances.

2020 BMX QLD State Championships

In the men’s superclass, a plethora of talent was on show however it was Queensland local Izaac Kennedy who came out on top, taking out all four motos in a dominant display. Matt Krasevskis of Ipswich West Moreton and Joshua Boyton of Centenary Plains rounded out the podium.

Saya Sakakibara continued her stellar form up in Queensland, clean sweeping the superclass women’s ledger, besting Beenleigh’s Des’Ree Barnes in second and Erin Lockwood of Nerang in third.

While the superclass headlined the weekend, they weren’t the only ones to hit the stunning Sleeman track.

Joining Kennedy and Sakakibara in clean sweeping the opposition were the riders below;

• Brandon Williamson: 8 boy’s (Townsville BMX Club)
• Dusty Schroder: 8 girl’s (Toowoomba BMX Club)
• Toby Hatfield: 9 boy’s (Bundaberg BMX Club)
• Penni Allen: 9 girl’s (Redlands BMX Club)
• Molly Williamson: 10 girl’s (Redlands BMX Club)
• Matilda Guy: 8 – 10 cruiser girl’s (Ashmore BMX Club)
• Fraser Vaughan: 11 boy’s (Pine Rivers BMX Club)
• Jasmine Standish: 12 girl’s (Suncoast Hinterland BMX Club)
• Nate Argent: 12 boy’s (Ipswich West Moreton BMX Club)
• Fraser Vaughan: 11-12 cruiser boy’s (Pine Rivers BMX Club)
• Cheralee White: 13 girl’s (Nerang BMX Club)
• Bailey Willis: 13 -14 cruiser boy’s (Pine Rivers BMX Club)
• Teya Rufus: 13-14 cruiser girl’s (Maryborough BMX Club)
• Flynn Sweeney: 15-16 cruiser boy’s (Nerang BMX Club)
• Zac Hutton: 17-24 men’s (Bundaberg BMX Club)
• Zac Hutton: 17-24 cruiser men’s (Bundaberg BMX Club)
• Matthew Carmody: 25-29 men’s (Bundaberg BMX Club)
• Nicholas Vonhoff: 30-39 men’s (Toowoomba BMX Club)
• Luke Driver: 30-39 men’s cruiser (Toowoomba BMX Club)
• Brad Silsby: 30+ Masters 20 Inch (Harbour City BMX Club)
• Ceilidh O’Sullivan: 30+ Masters Open (Suncoast Hinterland BMX Club)
• Tom Mcclellan: 40-49 men’s cruiser (Centenary Plains BMX Club)
• Angela Potter: 40-49 women’s (Harbour City BMX Club)
• Angela Potter: 40-49 women’s cruiser (Harbour City BMX Club)
• Steve Ewart: 50+ men’s (Pine Rivers BMX Club)
• Steve Ewart: 50+ cruiser men’s (Pine Rivers BMX Club)

On top of this, there was over 75 mini wheelers and sprockets participating from over 10 different clubs. For some of the riders, it was their first ever state championships!

Congratulations to all riders who competed, we hope you took to the time to stop and say thank you to the event organisers, the officials and of course – parents!

For a full list of results – CLICK HERE

Check out some of the best snaps from a thrilling three days of racing and head to the BMX Queensland Facebook page to see the replays of every race from the weekend.

BMXSA 2020 HutSix State Championships

In the men’s superclass, Matty Tidswell of The Cove left it till the last moto to grab his first win of the day, charging home in a tight fourth moto. Shane Rosa had a brilliant day, picking up the fastest time of the day with a time of 34.337, however did not start the final moto, meaning he would finish third overall. Joel Marsh of Happy Valley grabbed the silver medal.

Over on the women’s ledger, Georgia Potter of Happy Valley picked up first place and the fastest time of the day, clocking a 41.027 at the Blue Lake track.

It was a photo finish for second and third place in the final moto between Annaeliese Rokov of the Cove and Mercedes Scott of Blue Lake, 0.003 splitting the two in the final moto, with Rokov narrowly grabbing second overall ahead of Scott.

Similar to the Queensland State championships, the sprockets and mini wheelers turnout was fantastic with close to 60 participants across the board!

The 8 boy’s and 9 boy’s race had over 20 riders in each race, the biggest races of the day. Jack Rootes of the Cove clean swept the 8 boy’s in his first competitive state championships whilst Aidan Ashcroft of Tea Tree Gully dominated the 9 boy’s field.

Greg Clift of Cross Keys not only clean swept the 30-39 men’s cruiser, but also grabbed the masterclass male event on the Sunday.

Joining Clift in grabbing multiple events were the below riders;

• Samuel Ivas: 12 boy’s & 11-12 boy’s cruiser (Cross Keys BMX Club)
• Charlotte Tidswell: 17+ women’s & women’s cruiser (The Cove BMX Club)
• Brayden Porter: 17-29 men’s & men’s cruiser (Cross Keys BMX Club)
• Brett Harvey: 25-29 men’s & men’s cruiser (Gawler BMX Club)
• Ben McDonald: 40 + men’s & 40+ retro (Coffs Coast BMX Club)
• Rebecca Smith: 40-49 women’s& 40-49 women’s cruiser (Tea Tree Gully BMX Club)
• Steve Ewart: 50+ cruiser men’s (Pine Rivers BMX Club)

You can check out the full results HERE.

---

The impact of Kai’s injury on the entire BMX community has been astounding and the support Kai and the Sakakibara family have received is incredible. One club that truly felt the impact was Kai’s home club, Southlake Illawarra.

Speaking to members at Southlake Illawarra BMX club, Kai has always been and continues to be a role model to many kids and adults. Any time that Kai attended the track, whether it be at Southlake or any track across Australia and the globe, Kai would always make time to sign an autograph, have a photo taken or just have a chat. This is what makes Kai such a humble and popular person.

The club was looking at ways to support Kai to assist him with his ongoing rehabilitation. Back in June the club had two large #KaiFight77 stickers placed on their start gate. This was greatly appreciated by Kai and his family.

However, the club wanted to do more to support Kai and were looking at ideas that were going to be unique and memorable.

Southlake Illawarra and Ace Race have come together to create a memorable #KaiFight77 jersey that represents everything Kai.

Throughout the design, the club communicated with Saya, Yuki and Martin to get their feedback and approval of the design. This was key, as the club wanted to ensure the jersey represented who Kai is.

On August 21, members from the club visited Kai with the very first jersey. When Kai was given the jersey, his reaction was unforgettable.

Kai was stunned and couldn’t believe that this was for him and said, “why would anyone want to wear a jersey with me on it?” A touching moment for all who helped bring the jersey to reality.

The #KaiFight77 Jersey will see 100% of the proceeds going to Kai to assist him with his ongoing rehabilitation requirements, as well as to show him the love and support his community and country has for this amazing young man.

You can pre order HERE.

---

A challenging project to bring State and National cycling organisations together culminated on Saturday by having all three disciplines vote and agree on a future path.

Now, we are now just six weeks away from the launch of AusCycling.

As we move towards out shared new future of AusCycling, I am not forgetting where I or this sport have come from. Many great people and friends will still be that – Great People and Friends. Please remember to always do what’s best for the sport of cycling, no matter what wheel size, bike tyre you have or fabric you wear.

As the Chair of BMXA, I am truly in awe of my colleagues from all disciplines and Sport Australia who have worked collaboratively, diligently and with great determination and foresight and I am personally excited of be one of the inaugural Directors of Australia’s second largest Olympic Sport.

Let’s Ride Together!

Regards

Darren Alomes
Chair BMXA

---

Please click the link below for the full statement.

Click Here

---

The Sam Willoughby Medal nominees have been decided after a short delay due to CVOID-19. The nominees have been determined by a panel consisting of National Coaching Manager Luke Madill, Technical Director BMX – Australian Cycling Team Wade Bootes and Sam Willoughby.

The award is aimed at recognising and rewarding current Australian riders, regardless of age, gender or competition class. The inaugural winner of the award was Thomas Tucker in 2018 and in its second year, the winner was Jordan Callum.

Unfortunately, due to the current border and travel restrictions, there will be no BMX Hall of Fame gala dinner. Instead, the 2020 winner will be announced on September 26 via the Australia Hall of Fame Facebook page.

The winner will receive $1000 prize money courtesy of BMX International, and each nominee will receive a Sprintblock training device from Sprintblock.

Check out the five nominees below.

 

If you need a reminder on the stellar 2019-20 these riders had, check out some of their fine achievements below.

---

Abbey Richards – Southside BMX Club  (14yrs girl’s)

Richards won the 14 girl’s title at the national championships last year and continued her form at her first world championships in 2019, grabbing silver in the 14 girl’s event.

---

Thomas Tucker – Pine Rivers BMX Club  (14yrs boy’s)

Tucker took out his seventh consecutive 20inch gold medal in Zolder last year, bringing his personal world title tally to nine. On top of this, Tucker defended all his titles at the 2019 Grand Nationals in Oklahoma, USA.

---

Oliver Moran – Manning Valley BMX Club (Junior Elite Men)

Moran finished second in the junior elite category at world championships in Zolder last year and took out the men’s junior BMX title at the Cycling Australia awards in December.

---

Saya Sakakibara – Southlake/Illawarra BMX Club (Elite Women)

Sakakibara was a finalist in the elite women’s event at the 2019 world championships and competed in 6 out of the last 7 UCI Supercross World Cup finals, grabbing second and fourth in the opening rounds of the 2020 season in Shepparton.

---

Anthony Dean – Cross Keys BMX Club (Elite Men)

Dean was a finalist in the elite men’s event at the 2019 world championships and grabbed second in the opening round of the UCI Supercross World Cup in Shepparton at the start of the year.

COVER PIC: Tuggeranong BMX Club Facebook Page

---

Last weekend saw the most events in one weekend since the resumption of sport, ranging from small clubbies to the popular Shootout Series in Queensland. Fantastic to see thousands of riders of varying ages and abilities all out there racing.

This week’s Tales from the Berm heads to the nation’s capital as Tuggeranong held the second round of their Corona Cup on Saturday.

The first round of the cup was unfortunately cancelled last week due to the crazy snow and rain that hit Canberra.

Over fifty riders took to the track in a marvellous day of club racing with nearly half the riders being sprockets and mini wheelers.

During this week’s round, Tuggeranong introduced an award for Sprocket and Mini Wheeler of the Week. Check out the inaugural winners Bailey and Samantha!

See the winners from the junior and open divisions:

• Riley Williams: Junior Div 2 (Tuggeranong BMX Club)
• Maddison McCulloch: Junior Div 3 (Tuggeranong BMX Club)
• Brodie Buxton: Junior Div 1 (Tuggeranong BMX Club)
• Kaine McCarroll: Open Div 2 (Tuggeranong BMX Club)
• Aiden Nemet: Open Div 1 (Tuggeranong BMX Club)

Around the Country

Caboolture BMX Club held the final round of the 2020 Shootout Series with 372 riders competing across the two blocks.

Across the whole 2020 Shootout Series there was 2870 riders and 3280 entries, a mammoth job especially with the various restrictions post lockdown! Congratulations to all involved!

2020 World Cup finalists Izaac Kennedy and Saya Sakakibara claimed top spot in their respective superclass events, not dropping a moto in the process.

However, it was Kiana Botfield of Pine Rivers and Matt Krasevskis of Ipswich West Moreton that were the overall series winners, you can check out all the results and final standings HERE.

 
Check out some of the best snaps from around the nation below:

---