World champion Sarah Walker made a successful return to BMX competition with a comfortable victory in both rounds of the UCI Oceania ranking series at the new track near Pukekohe at the weekend.

The Rotorua club rider won five of her six heats and both finals against some stern competition from across the Tasman including the 2009 Australian BMX and Mountainbike female of the year, Caroline Buchanan and Beijing Olympian Nicole Callisto

Walker had a layoff after re-injuring her wrist after a crash in the final Supercross round in California.

The honours were shared in the elite men’s competition was shared with Tauranga’s Kurt Pickard winning Saturday’s round and Australian Brian Kirkham prevailing in a reduced field today.

Australian Darryn Goodwin was too classy, winning both rounds in the junior men’s competition from local Sunset Coast rider Trent Woodcock-Takurua.

Walker’s fellow New Zealand teammate Marc Willers did not compete as he recovers from recent shoulder surgery.

The next rounds of the series are in Canberra next month.

Finals, UCI Oceania ranking series:

Junior men, Saturday: Darryn Goodwin (AUS) 1, Trent Woodcock0Takurua (Sunset Coast) 2, Ryan Henderson (AUS) 3.

Sunday: Goodwin 1, Woodcock-Takurua 2, Daniel Franks (North Avon, Christchurch) 3.

Elite women, Saturday: Sarah Walker (Rotorua) 1, Rachel Bracken (AUS) 2, Caroline Buchanan (AUS) 3.

Sunday: Walker 1, Lauren Reynolds (AUS) 2, Buchanan 3.

Elite men: Kurt Pickard (Tauranga) 1, Alex Cameron (AUS) 2, Michael Williams (Papakura) 3.

Sunday: Brian Kirkham (AUS) 1, Cameron 2, Brock Murray (AUS) 3.

For further information contact:

Ian Hepenstall

Media Manager, BikeNZ

Sports Media NZ Ltd

Tel 09 2327822

Mob 0275 613181

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