Cambridge’s world champ riders, back row: Bennett Greenough, Tasman Wakelin, Leila Walker, Louis Hunt, Charlie Lester-Rosson, Tim Ferguson. Front row: Jack Greenough, Kobi Russell, Meg Cannon, Lily Greenough.
One third of the New Zealand team heading to the BMX World Championships this week hail from Cambridge. The ten-person team said they’re very excited for the event and feel more ready than ever, having made top placings at this year’s nationals, and some with world-champion titles already under their belt. “It’s a good reflection of the level of riding at our club,” club member Sharon Greenough said of the high number of local riders in the 35-strong NZ team.
Britain-based Cambridge local Ben Walter adds to the team of local riders: Leila Walker, Tim Ferguson, Tasman Wakelin, Charlie Lester-Rosson, Bennett Greenough, Jack Greenough, Lily Greenough, Louis Hunt, Meg Cannon and Kobi Russell, competing at the World BMX Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan June 5 – 9.
Leila Walker is aiming to make it a 6th world-win this year after being world number 1 in her age group for the last five consecutive years. “It’s an awesome opportunity again,” she said. “Being able to represent your country at such a young age is really cool.”
Having placed number one at the national championships in the 35+ age group, and after attending several world championships, Tim Ferguson has first-place firmly set in his sights. “I haven’t got that number one yet, I’ve made the world final a few times, but never got the number one,” he said. “It’s going to be just, go in there and execute your race. It doesn’t matter where it is, it’s always exciting racing worlds, I love big races,” he said with a smile.
Jack Greenough, who also came first in his age group at nationals, and fourth at last year’s world champs, said he was aiming for the top eight, “but anything better would be awesome,” said the 12-year-old boys’ competitor. “It’s a pretty cool opportunity and I’m pretty lucky to be able to travel around the world racing my bike,” he said.
His sister Lily, competing in the 11-year-old girls division, said she’s most looking forward to, “riding against people in my age group, going to a new country, making new friends and having fun.”
