12 Mar 2017, 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
Bathurst BMX Club rider Hayley Wolfenden earned herself a new career highlight an Oceania podium. <\/p>\n
TWELVE months after she placed secondat the national titles, Bathurst BMX Club rider Hayley Wolfenden earned herself a new career highlight an Oceania podium. <\/p>\n
GOOD START: Bathurst BMX Club's Hayley Wolfenden leads the way over Kiwi rival Toni James in a moto during the Oceania Championships. Photo: ANYA WHITELAW <\/p>\n
Competing at her home track over three days of racing last weekend, the 26-year-old showed up some of her more experienced rivals. <\/p>\n
Riding in the 17 and over womens class, she placed third in both BMX Australias national series on Friday night and the Grands Assault series on Sunday afternoon. <\/p>\n
Though that pair of podiums was impressive, it was eclipsed by her second placing in Saturdays Oceania Championships for her class. <\/p>\n
The result was the biggest of her BMX career thus far. <\/p>\n
Its your home track, so its sort of strange to contemplate that it came it such a big event, she said. <\/p>\n
Youre racing international riders. It definitely felt like something bigger than a club meet. <\/p>\n
Its pretty much the second highest group before you turn pro, if youre not riding pro you tend to ride that group.<\/p>\n
While a mistake on the second jump on Friday night saw Wolfenden go from first to third in her final moto, the performance still gave her confidence heading into the Oceania Championships. <\/p>\n
With no final conducted for her class, it meant Wolfenden needed strong performances in each of her three motos. <\/p>\n
The first race I was leading to the line where I shouldve got one extra peddle in, but I didnt, she said. <\/p>\n
I thought I might be up for therewin after that. But the next two motos were a bit of a different story, I just got seconds and that was what decided the overall result. <\/p>\n
If your group was small, what they did was a point score system instead of a final, so every race counts. So its even harder again, its not just a matter of making the final and pulling it all out then. <\/p>\n
I needed to win two out of three to get first placebut second, I cant complain, thats for sure. <\/p>\n
Wolfenden placed second in each of her three motos to be runner-upbehind undefeated New Zealand rider Toni James. <\/p>\n
The Kiwienjoyed a clean sweep for the three events, but given her experience, Wolfenden was happy to have tested James. <\/p>\n
The girl that beat me on Saturday, well she beat me every day, I think she said that she has been racing since was three whereas I have been racing for five years. I was Okay, youve probably got 10 years or so of racing on me. <\/p>\n
Ive just got to work on a few tiny things and hopefully next time I will be keeping up with the experienced ones. <\/p>\n
Wolfendens next big test will be Septembers state titles. <\/p>\n
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Hayley Wolfenden rides to an Oceania BMX podium - Western Advocate<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 12 Mar 2017, 10:30 a.m. Bathurst BMX Club rider Hayley Wolfenden earned herself a new career highlight an Oceania podium. TWELVE months after she placed secondat the national titles, Bathurst BMX Club rider Hayley Wolfenden earned herself a new career highlight an Oceania podium. Continue reading