May 18, 2008 – This is a big weekend for Team BC, with 2008 Tim Hortons Canadian National BMX Championships in Abbotsford, and eleven mountain bike riders taking part in a Canada MTB Cup in Bromont, Quebec. Two junior development road riders are in Europe doing a stage race in France, and our other road and track development riders are down in the States getting ready for provincial championships by stage racing south of border.

2008 Tim Hortons Canadian National BMX Championships
So far, results have been solid. The BMX Championships started off well with Brookelyn Wilkinson winning the Junior Female category, securing a place on the National Team for the BMX World Championships in China. The Junior Male category didn’t go as planned, with Michael Irwin and Cameron Murphy having difficulties in the final due to crashes. Michael still secured his place on the National Team for Worlds. The Elite Male competition was won by Scott Erwood, reigning National Champion, securing his place on the BMX World Championships team as well. In the Elite Women’s race Danielle Brisson, also reigning National Champion, finished third but hopefully has still secured her place on Canada’s BMX Worlds Team. Our Under 16 boys placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, with Tory Nyhaug winning, Nick Benetti in second, and Steve Creighton in third. There were lots of other exceptional results in the younger age categories, but at the moment our provincial team only reaches down to Under 16’s due to funding.

Canada MTB Cup in Bromont, Quebec
On the mountain bike side, things started off with a bang, with Evan Guthrie winning the Canada MTB Cup Junior Men’s Cross Country, and cadet rider Tyler Allison finishing second in the same race. Sebastian Sleep finished 5th, and Phil Cairns finished 9th, a great start for the Team looking ahead to qualifying for the MTB World Championships in Italy in the coming weeks. Bianca Adolf had an amazing ride in the Junior Female competition, passing the finish line – 1 meter to the side – over three minutes in front of her nearest rival, from Manitoba. However, as she mistakenly did an extra lap, technically she did not cross the finish line. Only one person on the whole mountain objected to her winning, but the Manitoba Coach objected to her being awarded the win, and she was assigned her final finishing time which included the extra lap that she completed, putting her in 11th when really she should have placed 1st. Team BC MTB Coach Steve Lund protested the decision for the next two hours to no avail, as the rules state that you have to cross the finish line. The win would have secured Bianca a good position looking ahead to next week’s second qualification race for the National Team for the MTB World Championships.

More results to come as the weekend unfolds. Good luck to the Downhillers in Quebec on Sunday!