For a trio of Tauranga BMX Club riders, the number plate NZ1 will hold pride of place for the next 12 months after they claimed the chequered flag in their respective divisions at the BMX National Championships.

Phillip Pinkerton, Peter Roden, and Shannon Davies lead a successful Tauranga contingent who competed at the season-ending event in Christchurch over Easter – all being crowned national champions.

Tauranga BMX riders Shannon Davies, 6, and Pete Roden, 57, are all smiles after taking out their divisions at the 2015 BMX National Championships in Christchurch. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Tauranga's 34 riders in 49 events were among the 1000 race entries in elite and age group races, from four-year-olds to 70-plus – returning with three golds, six silver and two bronze.

For Phil and Pete it marks back-to-back national titles in the 50-plus male cruiser and 50-plus male 20 inch divisions after claiming their maiden titles on their home track in 2014.

Shannon, aged six, was equally impressive clinching the Girls Years 6 division after just three years in the sport.

Pete, 57, is philosophical after the second national title considering he's beginning to get long in the tooth in the oldest division.

'I guess how I look at things is if you ride your very best the results will come, and I managed that,” he says. 'Fortunately there wasn't a guy that was better than me on the day.

'I ride because my step-daughter [Mia, 13] rides. If my daughter gave it away I certainly wouldn't be at nationals.”

With better skilled riders progressing from the under-50 divisions each year, Pete admits it's only a matter of time before someone knocks him off his perch. But he's more than up for the challenge.

'I'm always happy to test myself against younger guys,” he adds. 'I'd probably go with a different goal in mind; ride the best you can and see how the cards fall.”

Shannon's father Craig says the family is immensely proud of the six-year-old's achievements at such a young age.

Taking out two of the three motos, or heats, in Christchurch the six-year-old cruised into the seven-strong final before a slow start out of the gates forced her to play catch up.

Heading into the first corner in second place, Shannon took off along the straight to get underneath the leader at the next turn.

'She was super happy at prize giving to stand on the top of the podium with all the accolades and the NZ1 number plate,” says Craig, also Tauranga BMX Club president.

The youngest of three, Shannon's following in the footsteps of her siblings who both compete. And despite years of 'hand me down gear” she's taking to the sport enthusiastically, although not too seriously.

'We don't take it too seriously because she's so young,” says Craig. 'She isn't into training, she just likes racing.”

In total the BOP club had 16 riders make it to finals, giving it the boost to make it into the top eight club rankings.