Cruiser national champions crowned on day two of 2021 BMX Nationals

Two hundred cruiser riders weaved and twisted around Nerang BMX Club on day two of the 2021 AusCycling BMX National Championships, with 23 national champions crowned.

There were familiar faces and new faces on day two of the Championships, with a handful of riders retaining their national crown from 2019 as well as new faces stamping their authority to win the green and gold stripes.

The 2021 Championships saw the addition of the Cruiser 60+ male and female classes, a welcome inclusion for a handful of our long-serving riders.

One such rider was Macarthur BMX’s Irene Markee, who was attending her 35th consecutive Championships in her 35th consecutive year.

Markee was successful in taking home the title in the Cruiser 60+ female.

“I started racing in 1982 as my daughters did it. One of my first National Championships was Adelaide in 1986, where I rode a borrowed bike and both my daughters and my son rode,” Markee said on her introduction to the sport.

“There was no ladies classes or anything back then, so I encouraged a few friends of mine to get shirts with 25 and over ladies on the back… a few years later, they added the class.”

Markee on Saturday night was awarded a plaque to celebrate her 35 years of consecutive attendance.

“It was unbelievable, I did not expect it at all, I wasn’t planning on coming back down but I’m glad I did,” Markee said.

Joining Markee as a 2021 Australian cruiser champion was Josh Jolly in the 15-16 boys.

The former W4 plate holder was in the mix all day and had a fantastic second straight that set him up for victory.

A ‘W’ plate is the honour afforded to a finalist at the most recent world championships and the ‘W’ is complimented by the place the competitor finished in that final.

World number 8, Letitia Weatherhead, once again walked home with a gold medal and the green and gold jersey after a perfect run in the 45-49yrs cruiser women.

Riders joining Weatherhead that defended their Australian cruiser title today, included:

• Julia Botfield (women’s 40-44yrs)
• Letitia Weatherhead (women’s 45-49yrs)
• Fraser Vaughan (boy’s 8-10)

In other exciting results, twins Cooper Drew and Dyson Drew battled it out in the 8-10 boys event, with Cooper taking the bragging rights with a second-place finish.

For all today’s results, click HERE.

Earlier in the day, 84 little sprockets and mini wheelers each enjoyed four motos around the challenging Nerang track and were presented trophies by our favourite BMX rider, Santa.

The action continues tomorrow with all the 20-inch classes, beginning from 9.50 AM AEST.