Patience Paying Off for Launceston BMX Club

07 Oct 2022 | 12:09 PMBy: Ed Reddin

The wait is almost over for Launceston BMX Club, who will host the 2022 AusCycling BMX Racing National Championship next month.

The 2022 Nationals will be the first time since 2002 that the nation’s premier annual domestic event will be held in Tasmania, and the first time in 26 years the Nationals have taken place in Launceston.

This year’s event also comes after the disappointment of 2020, when the Nationals in Launceston were cancelled just days out from going ahead due to COVID.

Given the amount of hard work that had gone into preparing the venue in 2020, Launceston BMX Club President Matt Manshanden admitted having the event cancelled was “a pretty big deal,” but revealed the club has continued to improve the facility over the interceding years.

“To keep the track and the facility to the standard it was when it was ready to go last time has been a lot of hard work, and we’re still getting asphalting and stuff like that done to make it 100% for everyone.

“Fortunately, we don’t do things half-hearted and we’re in a better position than we were three years ago, so we can actually sit back and enjoy the week and the lead up to the Nationals.”

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With everyone focused on preparing the facility for Nationals, the President believes the meaning of the event is still sinking in for many, adding some members might get a shock when they see the number of people arriving for the event.

“We’re not just talking like 100-140 riders like we normally get at a state round. We’re talking over like 1000 or 1500 people. It’s going to be huge,” said Manshanden.

“But it’s also going to be nice to actually see what Launceston BMX Club has to offer and be turned out the way it has been for the last three years, because it has been hard work over that time to keep it at that standard.”

Launceston BMX Club

Accordingly, Manshanden is immensely proud of what the family-oriented club of 180 members along with their sponsors and supporters have been able to achieve.

“We are handing over something that a lot of people have got pride in. We’ve had a few little grants and the council has looked after us with a few things, but we’ve done a lot of it on our own to get the club looking like this, and it does look good.

“It’s a club that’s run by and supported by the club members, and obviously the sponsors, and that’s a true club.”

When asked if there were any local riders to look out for at Nationals, the President was keeping his cards close to his chest, saying, “Oh, I’m going to keep that to myself! [Laughs] That’s for me to know and for you guys to find out!”

The BMX National Championships have been running annually since 1980 and are the premier event on the Australian BMX calendar, bringing together riders from all states and territories.