Pietermaritzburg BMX Club riders delivered an impressive performance at the South African National BMX Cup Series in Gauteng recently, with Emily Eloff and Cha d Carroll emerging as the national series leaders in their respective age groups.
The SA National BMX Cup Series rounds four, five and six were held from July 3 to July 5 at the Cradle BMX Club in Gauteng.
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PMB BMX Club vice-chairman Cliff Eloff said the club was represented across several age groups, highlighting the depth of talent within the local club.
He said the club was “proudly represented” by Emily in the nine-10 Expert Girls, Nehemia Kitaba in the 11 Expert Boys, Chad Carroll in the 12 Expert Boys, Gabriel Santos in the 14 Expert Boys, and Byron Robertson in the 16+ Cruiser Men category.
“It was fantastic to have riders competing across several age groups and showcasing the depth of talent within PMB BMX Club,” said Eloff.
He said riders spent weeks preparing through structured training sessions, gate practice, sprint work, strength and conditioning, and race simulations to ensure they were ready for the demanding three-round event.
“Our primary goal was for every rider to race to their potential, gain valuable national-level experience and continue improving,” he said.
While podium finishes are always exciting, we measure success by progress, consistency and how riders apply what they’ve learned. Overall, we’re very pleased with the team’s performances.
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Emily was one of the standout performers, winning all 12 of her races in the nine-10 Expert Girls category to remain unbeaten throughout the weekend.
Chad also claimed first place in the 12 Expert Boys category.
Both riders now lead the SA BMX Cup Series standings in their age groups.
Gabriel secured one victory and two second-place finishes across the three rounds, while Nehemia claimed three second-place finishes.
Byron “used his experience to finish” second, third and fourth in a competitive cruiser class.
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Emily and Chad also competed in the South African Pump Track Championships hosted by Eduplex in Pretoria, where both claimed first place in their respective age groups and earned their coveted SA1 numbers.
Eloff said the event ran smoothly for the Pietermaritzburg riders despite the demanding nature of BMX racing.
“As with any BMX race meeting, there were some close battles and challenging track conditions, but our riders handled themselves well and demonstrated resilience throughout the weekend,” he said.
Looking ahead, the club hopes to build on its success when Pietermaritzburg hosts the next SA BMX National event from October 3 to 4.
“This competition is another important milestone for PMB BMX Club as we continue developing riders capable of competing at national level,” he said.
We are incredibly proud of every rider, coach, volunteer and parent who contributed to the team’s success. Their commitment and passion are what make our club so special.
“We also thank our sponsors and supporters.”
Eloff said the future of the PMB BMX Club is exciting, and that they look forward to building on their performances.
