Penny Ralph and William Peter place at national club competition

Territory biggest contingent of riders tackled the nation’s best in Victoria with two coming home with silverware. Read how team NT went here.

All the Territory riders together ahead of round 3 of Track Attack at Knox BMX Club. Picture: Facebook

The biggest ever contingent of Northern Territory BMX riders took to the tracks of Victoria for nine days of BMX mania.

Twenty-five riders from Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs took part in the 25th Track Attack, a nine-day, six round competition held at the Eastern Region clubs in January every year on the outskirts of Melbourne.

The event garnered its most ever participants, more than 600 riders taking to the track each round from around the country ranging from Sprockets (seven and under) to 50-plus year olds.

Two riders from the NT stood tall, placing at the competition - Penny Ralph who came second overall for 14 girls’ and William Peter who placed third overall for 11 boys’.

Satellite City BMX Club’s Jenna Smith said this year’s edition was the best she’d been a part of for team NT with good results and experiences to boot.

Satellite City's Penny Ralph placed second overall in the 14 Girls class. Picture: Facebook

“Penny was amazing, she was upset to have missed out on the top spot but she was proud to have performed on a big stage,” Smith said.

“William was also exceptional and was by far one of the best in his age group.

“There were so many state and national riders who took part this year which made the competition really high quality.”

A handful of riders from both Jingili and Satellite City also got to have elite training sessions from some of the world’s top riders - Paris gold medallist and five-time world champion Joris Daudet, World Cup winner Izaac Kennedy and friend of team NT, Junior Elite World Champion Josh Jolly.

Ballarat born and World Number 1 BMX racing rider Josh Jolly spent time with Palmerston's Satellite City BMX Club ahead of the 2024 NT Titles. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

For the riders from the NT, the competition was more than just racing against the best.

“This competition is so great for all the kids to go out of their comfort zones,” Smith said.

“They’re so used to racing the same tracks and against the same people and in the same environments, so to put them out of their bubbles, while stressful and emotional, proved a resilience builder and more.

“Additionally its also so great to see all the kids mingle and make new friends and share Instagram and phone numbers to stay in contact post the week, regardless of if they came from Perth or Macquarie or anywhere else in the country.”

Jingili's William Peter placed third overall in the 11 Boys category. Picture: Facebook

RESULTS

Satellite City: Penny Ralph – 2nd (14 girls), Hayden Smith – 11th (12 boys), Deagan Tiedeman – 12th (9 boys), Dean Ralph – 14th (16 boys), Declan Egan – 15th (11 boys), Gordon Ralph – 20th (13 boys), Aiden Chan – 21st (10 boys), Brock Miller – 21st (14 boys), Isabella Miller – 22nd (10 boys), Jack Miller – 23rd (8 boys), Abigail Miller – 25th (12 boys)

Jingili: William Peter – 3rd (11 boys), Rudi Griffith 5th – (11 boys), Hunter Trewhella – 6th (11 boys), James Creber – 16th (50+ open), Flynn Trewhella – 17th (9 boys), Oliver Tyrrell – 22nd (12 boys), Finlay Roe – 25th (12 boys)

Sprocket Rockets (Satellite, Jingili, Red Centre): Michael Douglas, Archie Smith, Toby Trewhella, Lucas Chan and Blake Trewhella

Originally published as Penny Ralph and William Peter place at national club competition