WMX Results – Rd1. 1st Charli Cannon – 50. 2nd Tayla Thompson – 44. 3rd Danielle McDonald – 40 (Yamaha Racing).’

It was another weekend and another first for Parkes’ teenage dirt bike sensation, Danielle McDonald. With a junior career littered with national championships in off road and motocross, then a gold medal at the International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) last year not long after her sixteenth birthday, McDonald is putting together a lengthy list of achievements for her resume. 2024 has started well with success at the opening round of the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC), she won the Women’s division on day two. She also racked up another milestone, by landing on the podium at round one of the ProMX in the Women’s class.

McDonald was nervous prior to racing getting underway as she is new to the ProMX scene. Race one saw her make a couple of mistakes as she shook off the nerves, resulting in two small crashes, yet she was able to pick herself up and fight all the way to the finish and cross the finish line in third.

Race two and she was again in the thick of the action and was in a tight battle with seasoned campaigner, Emma Milesevic, who challenged her right until the end. The pair swapped positions several times in the later stages of the race, but McDonald was able to hang on for another third place and was sent straight to the podium for third on the day.

A pattern is forming here with Danielle: Her first ProMX, her first ProMX podium. Her first senior AORC, her first podium. Her first ISDE, her first ISDE podium. Keep an eye out for the talented and determined teenager as she continues to gain experience in both the motocross and off-road paddocks.

McDonald explained “I had a great time at the ProMX round and really enjoyed the racing. It’s much bigger than I thought with so many major teams and the media presence at the race. I still have a lot to learn and there are a lot of fast girls but I’m looking forward to doing this year’s series and thankful Yamaha Australia has given me support to race it”.

Haylee Redfern

Forbes athlete Hayley Redfern has been competing in Kettlebell Sport for the past 5 years. She was previously involved in CrossFit however a change in training style was needed to adjust to a hearing impairment which was causing health issues. Hayley has also been working as a personal Trainer for over 10 years, having worked at Anytime Fitness, and more recently as a trainer with Active Farmers who are passionate advocates in promoting mental health wellbeing through physical fitness & providing remote rural communities with access to health & fitness services like first aid courses not readily available. To now become an independent PT.

Hayley holds some impressive titles including Australian Long Cycle Champion in 2020, 2021 and 2023. Winner IKMF World Championship 2021 in 30min Jerk & LC (Australia wasn’t allowed to travel due to covid restrictions at the time hence why it was ‘online’)

Hayley was also proud to be awarded Forbes Senior Sports Person on the Year 2019 & Forbes Sports Person of the Year 2021. Hayley currently holds 9 Australian Records in Kettlebell Sport, and if that isn’t enough she has also been competing in Strongwoman competitions for the past 15 months. Hayley competed in 4 competitions in this time for 3 x first placings & more recently a Second at this year’s Capital Open at the Canberra Royal Show. This type of training in between my Kettlebell competitions keeps me fit & strong

Hayley needs your support. Hayley is looking for sponsors to help her get to Poland to compete for the GSAA National Australian Kettlebell Team at the 2024 WKSF (World Kettlebell Sport Foundation) World Championships, being held on 6th June – 10th June. The WKSF is a prestigious event that brings together the best Kettlebell athletes from all around the world to compete against each other and show off their skills. Hayley’s first kettlebell competition in the lead up to the World championships in June will be WKSF Oceania Cup in Melbourne 13- 14th April to be held at the Convention Centre as part of the Aus Fitness Expo.

But Hayley may risk not being able to compete if she can not cover all of the costs involved. We are putting a call out to local businesses, organsations or individuals who would like to become a sponsor for Hayley so she can compete alongside Team Australia. Sponsorship is what helps a lot of high level sports persons achieve their dreams of training at an elite level and travelling the world to compete, in Hayley’s case sponsorship would help with travel expenses, training fees, equipment costs and other essential requirements. Promotion and recognition for sponsors can be discussed, but on offer is an opportunity to have your company logo featured on hayleys training gear and competition attire, acknowledgment of sponsors on Hayleys social media where she has a great following in the sport. Hayley can be contacted on 0421 977 031 or donate to the Go Fund me https://gofund.me/fb0ad064