It was biggest turnout yet for the provincial BMX finals at the 91原创 track held over the Labour Day Weekend, with 346 riders competing in 70 different races.

That鈥檚 about 40 more than last year to attend the event hosted by 91原创 BMX, with vice-president Bea Lindsay-Hawkins saying the local track is a popular venue, in part because it happens to be next to a large grass field that can accommodate all the RVs and camping trailers that make the trip to compete.

鈥淭his is the biggest provincial final that we鈥檝e ever had,鈥� Lindsay-Hawkins declared.

鈥淔or every rider we have, you multiply by [at least] three because families are coming,鈥� she estimated.

鈥淥ne of the things I like about BMX is ,I ride, my son rides, he coaches, it鈥檚 a great big family event. We have moms, dads, grandpas and grandmas out on the track.,

READ MORE: VIDEO: 91原创 BMX track turns 40

Corby Johnson drove his RV from Campbell River to bring sons Samuel and Macklin to compete.

鈥淲e bought that [the RV] just to do this,鈥� Johnson commented.

Johnson said the appeal of the sport is the brand of sportsmanship practiced by participants, with riders competing hard, but remaining friendly.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 have the us-versus-them attitude,鈥� he said.

As a parent, he prefers it to sports like hockey, where 鈥測ou battle the enemy.鈥�

鈥淲e have friend in every track we go to.鈥�

Later in the day, Johnson鈥檚 son Macklin experienced the BMX attitude when a false start threatened to cost him a first place finish.

Two riders mistakenly took off before the start was given.

Under BMX rules, the race would continue, but only the riders who started on time would be counted.

Instead, all of the riders were called back and the race was re-run, with Macklin coming in second to Jacob 鈥淛.R.鈥� Ross of Kelowna, one of the racers who accidentally jumped the start.

When Macklin protested, a track official asked J.R. if Macklin should get first.

鈥淎bsolutely. One hundred per cent,鈥� said J.R.

When the riders took the podium, J.R. wrapped an arm around Macklin and gave him a hug.

鈥淚t was truly incredible,鈥� Corby Johnson said.

Following the 91原创 finals, the next big BMX event in BC will be a national series in Chilliwack on October.

Since it started operating 41 years ago, the 91原创 track at 42 Avenue and 207 Street has attracted riders from around the world with provincial, national and international competitions.

BMX, which is short for 鈥渂icycle motocross鈥� or 鈥渂ike motocross鈥� got started in the 1970s when Southern California cyclists started riding on motorcycle motocross dirt tracks for fun.

According to one online account, it was a 1972 motorcycle racing documentary, On Any Sunday, that turned BMX into a national sport, thanks to an opening scene in the movie that shows young cyclists riding their bikes off-road.

The bikes were originally so-called 鈥渨heelie鈥� bikes meant to resemble a chopper motorcycle with high, 鈥渁pe hanger鈥� handlebars.

Races are run 300- to 400-metre-long tracks over a series of jumps and bumps with banked corners known as 鈥渂erms.鈥�

BMX bikes come in a range of frame sizes from the mini for the very young rider to the adult XL and double XXL. One major variation is a slightly bigger BMX bike fitted with 24鈥漺heels called a cruiser.

BMX racing became a medal sport at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

More can be viewed at the 鈥�91原创 BMX Official Page鈥� on Facebook or by emailing info@langleybmx.ca.

RESULTS:

91原创 riders were contenders in almost every class of race, with multiple first place finishes.

91原创 winners (some riders, who didn鈥檛 have the required four qualifying races, were able to win their class but were not recorded as provincial final winners):

FEMALE CRUISER

21 鈥� 30 Female Cruiser

1 Monica Johanson

36 鈥� 40 Female Cruiser

2 Erin Harron

46 鈥� 50 Female Cruiser

1 Laurie Harding

2 Bea Lindsay-Hawkins

3 Kelley Spelay

BOYS/MEN CRUISER

9 Boys Cruiser

1 Lucas Close

2 Tyson Van Overschot

3 Finely McHale-Boulter

10 Boys Cruiser

3 Liam Harron

14 Boys Cruiser

1 Sawyer Cameron

41 鈥� 45 Cruiser

2 Dan Bouch

46 鈥� 50 Cruiser

2 Andy Tielen

1 Chuck Padgham

NOVICE/INTERMEDIATE CLASS

5 & Under Novice/Intermediate

2 Hudson Lutman

9 Ella Johnson

6 Novice/Intermediate

6 Noah Harron

11 Henry Alain

7 Novice/Intermediate

10 Nicholas Nasschuck

12 Zack Lefteruck

17 Nolan Anderson

8 Novice/Intermediate

12 Carter Vandekerkhove

9 Novice/Intermediate

7 William Salzl

9 Carsen Timmins

12 Lauren Alain

10 Novice/Intermediate

4 Nathan Miskinis

6 Kai Joyce

11 Novice/Intermediate

1 Casey McHale-Boulter

3 Piper Wesson

12 Novice/Intermediate

5 Ethan Wood

13 Novice/Intermediate

5 Ethan Wood

41 - 45 Novice/Intermediate

2 James Lutman

46 - 50 Novice/Intermediate

1 Jason Scoffins

EXPERT GIRL

9 Female Expert

3 Calla Alisch

10 Female Expert

2 Eliee Pughe

13 Female Expert

1 Shaelin Tinker

14 Female Expert

1 Zoe McHale-Boulter

EXPERT BOY

8 Boy Expert

1 Isaac Johnson

2 Connor Brereton-Stiles

4 Cooper Schwandt

6 Oliver McInnes

9 Boy Expert

4 Lucas Close

11 Tyson Van Overschot

13 Finley McHale-Boulter

10 Boy Expert

1 Kameron Drombolis

3 Gavin Niles

4 Jack Cerney

5 Ryan Lefteruck

6 Dallen Brereton-Stiles

9 Liam Harron

11 Dakota Watson

18 Colton Vandekerkhove

11 Boy Expert

2 Lucas Zhou

5 Evan Close

7 Logan Johnson

12 Boy Expert

3 Dexter Winton

9 Lucas Ryall

13 Boy Expert

2 Tristen Stacey

41 鈥� 45 Expert

1 Peter Kuyvenhoven

46 鈥� 50 Expert

1 Gerry Erickson

2 Dan Close

.

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3 Ray Ong