By Hayley Wildes
Despite being founded just last year, the Casey BMX Club is already making waves, both locally and nationally.
With the BMX nationals taking place this week in Shepparton, the Casey BMX Club has 10 riders – young and old – competing, a true sign that the club is developing some of the best riders in the nation.
Casey BMX Club president Adrian Bognar spoke about the club’s inception and the development of the riders.
“We started as a club when we had our first come and try day in February last year,” he said.
“So, it’s been over a year now and we offer coaching three night a week and a practice day, and then we race every second Saturday.
“Some of those kids that have been sticking with it are now going to the nationals, which is exciting.”
With some of the newest and best facilities in Australia, the Casey BMX Club – based at Casey Fields – has grown from a handful of foundation members to having over 100 registered members today.
“I think it’s about a $3.3 million-dollar facility that the council built and it’s one of the Australia’s best tracks,” he said.
“[Having that facility] definitely helps develop the riders; if you can ride at our track, you can ride any track in Australia.”
The nationals aren’t for the faint-hearted, as foundation Casey BMX Club member and nationals competitor Matthew Phillips explained.
“It’s just one of those things; you could be the fastest all day and then have one bad race and not make it through to the finals,” he said.
Phillips is competing in the 40-44 men’s event. Bognar is competing in the 45-49 men’s cruiser event, while his son Patrick is competing in the 16 boys and 15-16 boys cruiser events.
The father and son duo is what the Casey BMX Club is all about; a family-orientated club for all.
“It’s definitely a family-driven sport,” Bognar said.
“There’s lots of young kids, boys and girls, who are really enthusiastic at the club and that’s just really cool to see,” Phillips added.
With competitors of all ages, from Paul Grace competing in the 50-plus class to Campbell Hoctor in 8 boys event, the Casey BMX Club proves that BMX racing really is for everyone.
For anyone looking to try BMX racing, please head to Casey BMX Club’s website; caseybmxclub.com.au, for more information or to get in touch.
