While it might have been wet and raining around the Clarence Valley the past couple of weeks, a number of our local BMX families have been travelling to major BMX events in QLD and ACT with over 500 riders competing at each event. The Brown, Fowler, Hyatt, Landenberger and Marsh families have for the past eight weeks been competing in the six rounds of the South East Queensland BMX Shootout series at different tracks around QLD. A few of the teenage boys and girls from the Clarence Valley BMX Club had their first experience at riding in the open Pro Men and Women’s Super-Classes and they held their own against the more experienced professional riders and placing well in most of their races. The standout results at the end of the SEQ BMX shootout series were Brendan Brown 1st and Jake Hyatt 3rd in the 14 boys; Tahlia Marsh 1st in the 13-14 girls Cruiser; Stacey Brown 1st in the 15 girls and Josh Marsh 1st in the 16 boys. It may have been pouring rain here but it was all fine weather at the ACT BMX Championships held on March 18-19 at the Tuggernong BMX track just south of Canberra. Riley Landenberger and Brendan Brown both rode well in the 24 inch Cruiser and 20 inch BMX classes with Brendan making it to the semi-finals on his 20 inch bike. The two local girls Britney Cole and Stacey Brown brought home four ACT State plates and rankings from the championships and both got to stand on the podiums used for the 2000 Olympic Games. On Saturday the girls rode up in the 17 – 29 years Women’s 24 inch Cruiser class and Brown won the title with Cole placing second. Sunday was all about the 20 inch BMX classes and Cole rode brilliantly for her third place in the 14 girls. Brown was just too quick and won all her races including the final in the 15 girls. Brown also rode in the Pro Women’s Super-Class on both days to gain more experience at the elite level and Stacey was over the moon when she placed second to the number 1 ranked Australian rider Saya Sakakibara in one of the moto races. For more information about the local BMX Club checkout their Facebook page or call into the track at South Grafton. Greg Brown