North Canterbury continues to make its mark on the BMX track, with a number of good local placings resulting from the New Zealand Championships, held in Christchurch over the weekend.
The meeting also decided New Zealand's 2018 elite titles.
With the UCI World Cup season clashing with the national championships at Easter, the elite titles were decided as part of the South Island Championships at the Christchurch City BMX Club track in Hornby.
Coming home with the national number 3 plate was 20-year-old Tahlia Hansen, who said she was stoked with her result, putting much of her success down to her support crew which includes her boyfriend and his family in Cambridge where she is based.
Hansen was a Perago Trust recipient in 2014.
She has been competing in the Elite Women's competition for two years, placing third at the nationals last year as well.
"I must have a bit of a thing for third because I came third at the North Island titles in October too," Hansen said.
It is quite a result for the North Canterbury rider who spent months recovering from back surgery in November 2016.
"My first race back was Waitangi Day last year. I didn't do any training before, just went in and raced. I've been riding for 16 years now so I guess it's a natural thing for me."
Not to mention it's in her genes — Tahlia's family is synonymous with BMX in North Canterbury and although she is now living in the North Island she will always consider herself part of the local club.
"I do feel a loyalty to the club. And it's great to see it growing, with a lot of younger kids coming through. That's good for the club."
While the BMX calendar of events takes a break over the winter, Hansen still has plenty on for the next month or so, with the next three weekends all taken up with races at Te Awamutu, Auckland and Wellington. -Stuff.co.nz
