Mountainbike National Champs Wrap, Days 1-3

The RaboDirect MTB National Champs were underway with supporting events on Thursday, and UCI category CN events Friday night and Saturday in the Dunedin locations of Signal Hill and Forrester Park. MTBNZ made the difficult decision to proceed with the event after the devastating Christchurch earthquake, in the interests of the Christchurch Nationals MTB riders and their families who appreciated the brief distraction and the support the event community was able to provide for competition week.

Hillclimb, Thursday 24th February

Always a specialty discipline, the Hillclimb event up Signal Hill from the Logan High School staging area drew a small but quality field to start the Championships programe off. In the Mens competition, the highly experienced Gavin McCarthy (Lower Hutt) clung onto to new mountainbike Junior bolter Tom Filmer (Nelson) for as long as he could up the steep Signal Hill course, but had no answer for the young rider who claimed first finisher honours as well as a Junior National Championship title with his 12 minute, 12 second climb. McCarthy had to be content with a Championship title in the Senior Men category, still no mean feat. In the Womens, Queenstown's Kate Fluker cleared out to win by over a minute from Raewyn Morrison, and was never threatened for her Championship title

Dual Slalom, Thursday 24th February

The popular Dual Slalom event took place at the summit of Signal Hill, under threatening skies and on a bike handling experts course. Elimination heats in the Junior and Senior Mens categories were hotly contested with two very experienced riders claiming Championship honours. Reon Boe (Queenstown) dominated the Senior category triumphing over Dave du Plessis (Perth), while Daniel Franks (Christchurch) called on his vast BMX racing experience to better visiting Tahitian Bryan Beaufils in the Junior Mens final. Enough rain fell during the final heats to make a largely grass based dual slalom course treacherous and unpredictable, and both Boe and Franks displayed reactive bike handling prowess worthy of their wins.

Four Cross, Friday 25th February

The eliminator style four-up event took place on the Signal Hill course first utilised for the 2010 Oceania Championships 12 months ago. A great mix of Elite and Junior riders raced each other in the Open Mens race - with a final heat stacked with four riders capable of claiming the sought after Four Cross National Championship title. Number 1, 2, 3 and 5 seeds progressed through to the final round, with fastest qualifier Danial Franks getting the all important jump out of the gate and to the first corner. However, Franks left an inside line barely open, and it was enough for Mat Walker (Kawerau) to make a pass that stuck right through to the finish line and the title. Reon Boe and Rupert Chapman (Christchurch) tussled for the third spot, with Boe doing enough to claim the 3rd place.

The small Open Womens field put on a fantastic display of competitive four cross racing. Fastest qualifier Veronique Sandler (Nelson) and Sophie Tyas (Auckland) were even right through the top 2/3rds of the race - with the lead changing several times as both Juniors tried to break away from each other. Wellington's Sarah Atkin was ready to pounce at the slightest opportunity, but it was Sandler who held her nerve to claim the Women's title.

Cross Country, February 26th

Age group racing took place at 10.30am at the Forrester Park, multi lap race course. Form riders from the recently completed NZ MTB Cup were to the fore in winning the prized titles with rides of note again taking place in the Junior grades. Brothers Craig and Ben Oliver cleaned out the Under 17 Mens competition in style, while in the Under 15 Womens race Palmerston North's Kara MacDermid backed up her 2010 title with another in 2011, riding at a pace that turned heads.

The main event ran at 2pm with the Elite/Under 23 and Under 19 feature categories. Eagerly anticipated with all of NZ's top athletes on show, the quality level of racing didn't disappoint.

Under 19 star Anton Cooper was on a mission from the gun, and the Christchurch rider had a point to prove. Starting two minutes behind the Elite field, Cooper managed to work his way to being the lead rider on course by his fourth lap, a staggering feat considering the calibre of his peers. Cooper went on to win his Junior category by over five minutes leaving an impression that is sure to last for sometime, and which will also be a great lead-in to the upcoming Oceania Championships in Australia.

The Elite Womens race was an intriguing contest. Rabobank-Giant's Rosara Joseph (Christchurch) held a handy lead after her first lap, but NZ MTB Cup champion Karen Hanlen (Whakatane) worked her way onto Joseph's wheel after the second and looked to be relishing the ability to challenge. Joseph then cranked on the pressure, extending a lead over Hanlen which she held to the line and the Championship; title, a win the Biejing Olympian was proud to claim.

The Elite Mens race produced a result that had been five years in the making, Whakatane's Carl Jones has spent five years in the Elite category chasing this title, and he was the off the front leader from the first lap right to the line. Jones knew that Dirk Peters (Rotorua) was stalking him and his aggressive approach to protecting his slight lead was clearly evident. But Peters couldn't maintain contact, with Jones driving on to win the Championship title by a comfortable two minutes. Defending title holder Mike Northcott battled in the chase, and was able to gain some ground to claim third.

The Mountainbike National Championships programe winds up on Sunday February 27th with the Short Track Cross Country event and the Downhill race, both at Signal Hill, Dunedin.

Full Results Hillclimb
Full Results Dual Slalom
Full Results Four Cross
Full Results Cross Country