It proved six of the best for the New Zealand team in Challenge racing at the UCI BMXRacing World Championships in Copenhagen.

The New Zealand team earned six medals in the four-day Challenge competition for age group competitors, which now gives way to the Elite racing over the weekend.

The kiwis finished with three gold medals, two silver and a bronze, which is the best by the New Zealand team in the post-Covid era.

BMX New Zealand Chairman, Chris Greenough said he was proud with the performances from the Challenge riders.

“We have a great pathway for young riders coming through which has shown our here, and at the same time our adult riders the likes of Toni James and Jeanette Davies, are delivering world class performances,” said Greenough.

“I could not be more delighted for them. This is a truly unique and outstanding sport with riders from eight years to closer to 60 competing this week. It is a sport for families, and for life – a great way for a family to have fun together, to enjoy competition and to keep fit and healthy.”

Today’s final day of Challenge class competition featured a bronze medal for seasoned Waitakere rider Toni James, who followed up her silver medal in the Cruiser class for women 30-39 years with a bronze in the BMX Racing W3 class final today.

James was fastest in winning two of her three qualifying motos, and was fastest in the semifinals. From the outside gate, she was edged out of the gate but fought back to finish third, only a faction o a second from winning the silver.

New Zealand medallists:

Gold: Jeanette Davies (Rotorua) Cruiser class women 40 Plus, Matatini DL Hill (North Harbour) Boys 11 years; Addison Harrowfield (Mountain Raiders), Girls 12 years

Silver: Jackson Ropati (East City) Boys 10 years; Toni James (Waitakere) Cruiser class women 30-39 years.

Bronze: Toni James (Waitakere) Masters Women.