Maydena Downhill National Titles 2022
7 competitors from the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club attended the National Downhill titles on the weekend of the 20th of February. With the club seeing some outstanding results.
The course at Maydena is steep and challenging in several spots finishing very large jumps more than 40 feet. With a total 0f 349 competitors in the field it was very competitive in all classes. The U/15 and U/17 classes combined alone was almost bigger than the entire XCO field so a result in this class would be outstanding.
Results:
Matt Empey 20th Elite Men (74 competitors)
Elise Empey 1st U/19 Women
Bella Green 5th U/19 Women
Sam Mosley 12th U/17 Men
Zac Empey 33rd U/17 Men
Selina Green 2nd U/15 Women
Mt Baw Baw VDHS Downhill Results
Another sold out race for the Downhill series ensured all classes were incredibly competitive. Baw Baw didn’t disappoint. Rain and greasy conditions were the order of the day for Saturday practice. Despite the conditions everyone agreed the track was running well.
The weather conditions improved for Sunday and the track dried, and the times fell in both qualification runs, and race runs. The Mansfield crowd performing very well and certainly punching above their weight with four podiums out of the six competitors from the club.
Matt Empey’s run was the standout from the Mansfield crew with a very competitive run in Elite men, putting him on the podium for the first time.
The U/17 men’s class had 80 competitors, which makes Sam Mosley’s run an outstanding achievement as he had a huge off in practice and was a little shaken to say the least. Well done Sam.
Zac Empey raced well for 23rd with 10 competitors being within 4 seconds of each other. So not far off the top ten.
Bella Green finally climbed onto the top step with an excellent run in Elite women. Bella has been constantly improving this season and the result is well deserved.
Selina Green raced well for third in U/15 women.
Crash of the weekend went to Elise Empey. With a spectacular cartwheel at speed at the bottom of the feared Jeep track. She brought the huge crowd to its knees with her high-speed antics. The result being a dislocated shoulder, concussion and a set of destroyed forks.
Well done everyone.
Bella Green 1st Elite Women
Elise Empey DNF
Matt Empey 4th Elite Men
Sam Mosley 3rd U/17 Men
Zac Empey 23rd U/17 Men
Selina Green 3rd U/15 Women
Cipa Prevails - Two Strong
A stellar group of 17 riders gathered at 6pm on 3rd March for the start of the scheduled Thursday night handicap road race – a 26klm out and back course on the Mansfield-Whitfield Road. With Chief Marshall Darren Bakker officiating and Mel Green on stop watch, David Bock took off on Limit, followed 5 minutes later by the 5 man group of John (strong heart now) Eisner, David (“I don’t get endorphins from exercise”) Jagger, Alex (selective efforts Irene) Green, Craig (“I hate getting dropped”) Wilson, Wayne (“I don’t want to miss my group’s start time ever again”) Arazny, and John (“I’d like to train harder”) Findlay. The female duo of Janine Appleton and Belinda Cipa followed 1 minute later. Mike Pearce and Tom MacMunn paired to follow 3min:30sec later ahead of Steve Duke and Tim Ross by 1 min:30sec. Steve Brown, David Moore and Bruce Halket were next to depart and formed a feisty Block group. Josh (last week’s Juggernaut) Hopwood and Chris (maybe time for another fastest time) Miller had to cool their jets for a further 1min:30 sec to give everyone the chance to cross the finish line first.
Once rolling, Belinda and Janine powered out to catch the bunch of 5 just before the Barwite Road intersection. By and from the turnaround at Sawpit Gully this large group worked smoothly together before eventually dropping a few and passing David Bock as the road straightened out near Bridge Creek.
Like a bunch of frenzied road runners being chased by lean, mean and savvy predators, Belinda and Janine with John Findlay, Alex Green and Wayne Arazny dug deep to hold their lead for as long as possible. With the left-hand corner onto Mt Battery Road in sight, the effort and end were almost near.
Expecting to hear the Juggernaut’s carbon rims whistling from behind, Belinda took heart from a cheery roadside shout of encouragement as she made the turn, just as a calf muscle wanted to congeal into concrete and the finish line still an agonisingly long 300metre sprint away.
With great camaraderie, Belinda took line honours from Janine in 2nd place and a strong ride by John Findlay earned him a podium finish in 3rd place. Steve Brown was applauded for 4th place and Tom MacMunn 5th. Bruce Halket, Mike Pearce, Steve Duke, and Josh (still a Juggernaut with fastest time) Hopwood and Chris Miller rounding out the top ten placements.
At the finish, all agreed, in breathless, heaving silence, that it was a great race and a strong effort by all to finish.
Many thanks to the race Committee members, Commissaires, Marshalls, Volunteers and Supporters for running the race so smoothly and to Tony Copland for his wonderful photography. Post-race, the Committee thanked Mansfield Hotel for their sponsorship and for welcomed all for dinner and refreshments afterward.
If you think you are too old, too young, too slow, too fast, not social enough, or just too plain curious, think again. Be brave and contact the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club via their website to see what fun you can have with others on or around two wheels.
Three very exciting community events are on this month in Mansfield which showcase cycling in all its forms.
Check out the Tour de Trail on Sunday 13th March;
The Club’s marquee Mansfield Hotel Tour powered by Orcoda, a 3-stage road cycling event on the 19th and 20th March which will see Victorian Road Cycling Teams as well as Men’s and Women’s A, B and C grade riders challenge themselves on Graves Road, Mt. Buller Road and the majestic climb that is Mt. Buller; and
On the 24th- 27th of March check out the incredible mountain biking skills and action on display at the Highline MTB Festival.
