VDHS round 3 round up
Thanks to the MMBCC members and their families that supported the Vic downhill series this weekend at Mt Buller.
Ben Annear, Bike Buller rep and club Secretary, coordinated the event - super effort!
Friday involved bunting the entire course in less than ideal conditions - great work Damian and Will Grundy, Bruce Halket, Dave Empey and Jason Parker - we were all waterlogged by the end!
Soaked through but happy to be almost finished...
Practice was held on Saturday on a drying track. Thanks to the following marshals who did a great job… Damian and Will Grundy, Bruce Halket, Dave Empey, Adam and Finn Baker, Cam Dobson, Tony Williams and Margaretanne Hood, Tim Day, Di Condie and Mauro Brega, Angus Durkin, Karisse Hunter, Dan Purcell, Tim Ross, Kieren Payne, Anthony Plummer, Dan Friday, Ian Conrick and Jane Lottkowitz, Tamara Watson, Dave Bock and Jason Parker.
We were greeted with beautiful weather Sunday morning, race day, and the track was in tip top condition. It ran smoothly thanks to our excellent marshals: Dave and Kate Empey, Adam Baker, Anthony Plummer, Dan Friday, Trevor Arnold, Stuart Oates, Tom MacMunn, Ivan Pacak, Julie Dolling, Bruce Halket and Jenni Sparnon, Katie and Dave Moore, Clarissa Leatham and Jason Parker.
Nice t-shirts!
Also, thanks to Andy Railton for responding to a request for accommodation by donating two beds for club members officiating over the weekend.
Club sponsor, the Delatite Hotel, has kindly donated a $50 meal voucher to a volunteer, which has been won by Anthony Plummer.
A highlight of the weekend was seeing our local riders competing and achieving success at this level: Charlie Jones, Matty Empey, Will Phipps and Shannon Rademaker.
Kian wins in the west
Kian Lerch-MacKinnon travelled to Pemberton in WA for rounds 3 and 4 of the MTBA National Series.
He got away to a comfortable victory on Saturday but found the going much tougher on Sunday with Cameron Wright on his wheel for the whole race.
Results for Saturday are here and Sunday results are here (select Junior under 'Categories' and hit 'Apply' to see the junior category results.)
Hayden Fletcher wins and loses
"You win some, you lose some." That was Hayden Fletcher's response when asked how he fared in Cairns last weekend for rounds 3&4 of the 2016 BMX Australia National series.
Going into round 3 as the series leader in the Junior Mens Elite class. The Mt Buller Mansfield Cycling Club bmx racer decided to play it safe in the motos and semi finals; just doing enough to qualify for the 8-man final. Coming from lane 7, Hayden got a great start and came out of the first corner in 2nd place. As the riders headed into the big 10 metre long pro jumps Hayden caught and passed the leader to hit the front in the last corner and powered away for his 2nd win of the series!
The following day for round 4 saw the Howqua Inlet teen follow the same strategy from round three. Unfortunately in the semi final Hayden got caught up behind a few riders and was unable to carry enough speed to jump through the pro section, coming 5th in the race and missing a place in the final. The final was won by multiple Australian and Victorian age champion Matt White from Bendigo.
Hayden retains the green leader's plate with a narrow 35 point lead over world #8 Joshua Boyton of Queensland.
Rounds 5 & 6 will be held at the Shepparton BMX track on the 6th and 7th of February. Entry is free and food and soft drinks are available. Bring the kids over to Shepp to see the top riders in Australia battling for a place on the 2016 Australian Olympic team.
Simon Gerrans wins a fourth Tour Down Under
In case you're still under that rock, Simon Gerrans yesterday claimed his fourth TDU, the only rider to do so. Cycling Tips has some great photos from the final stage here and click here for the Backstage Pass videos fromGreenEDGE - keep an eye out in the Stage 4 edition (at about 4.20) for the Prez and Allan gets a guernsey at 50 sec in the Stage 5 edition.
Finally...
Black 'n' Tan on the road this Thursday and Dirt Crits start again on Monday.