adminThe new format, according to the Zimbabwe BMX Association chairman Andrew Donaldson, is meant to have more events during the year.
“The world body recommended that from this year, the national championships will be held on the same day worldwide. So for us to keep our riders competitive, we decided to come up with the inter-provincials
which will be played in Harare and Bulawayo every two weeks.
“The world body will inform us on which days we should have the national championships whose points will be combined with the inter-provincials so that we come up with the national team for 2013,” Donaldson said.
In the past, the Zimbabwe BMX Association used to select riders for the national team after a three-part National Series that was held in Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru.
The riders who were selected at the weekend will represent Zimbabwe at the World Championships that will run from 24-27 May in Birmingham, England.
Joseph Bening, ranked sixth in the world’s Under-8 boys, Savanna Mason fourth in girls’ Under-8, and world’s third best rider in the Under-10 boys Matt Denslou are part of the Zimbabwean team.
Other world plate holders in the squad are double world plate holder Tafi Mashingaidze who will compete in the open category, Kirstern Du-Plooy (girls Under-10), Broc Meyer (boys Under-11), Tracy Du-Toit (girls Under-11) and Connor Chadwick.
Mashingaidze is also the national team coach.
Donaldson said the riders were selected from last year’s events and have already started preparing for future competitions. “Zimbabwe has been dominating in junior categories because our riders start at a tender age compared to other countries. Before the World Championships in England our riders are going to participate at the South African National Championships as part of their preparations.
“The criteria we used to select players is simple, this was from last year’s three national competitions that were held in Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare,” Donaldson said.
The competition at Busters was the first of the year and Donaldson said riders seemed determined to take an early lead so that they could set the pace when they complete the series.
Team
Under-7: Boys: Ruben Smith (Bulawayo)
Under-8: Boys: Luke Doran, Jonny Bowen, Graeme du Ploot, Joseph Bening (all Harare), Girls: Savanna Mason (Harare), Hanna Taylor (Bulawayo)
Under-9: Boys: Harley Tayloy (Harare), Girls: Aimee Smith (Bulawayo)
Under-10: Boys: Brendan Mason (Harare), Girls: Tyla-Shae Donaldson (Harare)
Under-11: Boys: Matt Denslow, Tayne Turnock (both Harare), Girls: Kirsten Du-Plooy (Harare)
Under-12: Boys: Declan Oldrieve (Bulawayo), Ryan Machingauta (Harare), Andre Pretorious (Bulawayo)
Under-15: Boys: Scott Donaldson (Harare)
Under-16: Boys: Penias Tenthani (Harare)
Open: Tafi Mashingaidze, Jonathan Thackray, Tawanda Marova, Andrew Manjira, Tatenda Maramba, Kurt Rietz (all Harare), Mat Bourne (England based)
Online Reporter