Meet two of Australia’s best BMX riders.
Wyndham Warriors BMX Club members Mandie Morgan and Sienna Richmond have extra spring in their pedals after stellar performances at this month’s BMX Australia national championships at Bathurst.
Ms Morgan placed third in the 30-to- 34-year-olds’ women’s division, while Sienna came in fifth in a field of 34 riders at her national debut.
Ms Morgan started her BMX career as a kid in Britain and won a couple of British nationals before hanging up her helmet at the tender age of eight.
Then, in 2011, the Point Cook resident asked her brother to build her a bike and she “got hooked” again.
Although happy with her performance, Ms Morgan is keen to one day display ‘1A’ plates – first in Australia – on the front of her bike.
“I’d love a number one,” she said.
“I want to get that national jersey one day.”
Nine-year-old Sienna began riding BMX competitively just nine months ago.
The Tarneit resident says she loves competing and making new friends.
“It’s really fun. It’s also a very good sport for your body and it’s a lot of fun going up hills and jumping.”
Sienna describes her national debut as “very fun, very hard and sweaty” and said she had been hoping to get past the quarter-finals, which she achieved.
The pair’s feat is even more incredible considering only a handful of the Wyndham Warriors’ 110-plus members are female.
Ms Morgan is keen to get more young girls and women on their bikes and will start female-only coaching next month.
“It’s such a good sport for confidence-building and keeping your body fit.”
Details: www.wwbmxclub.com.au
