MTB Nationals at Mt Buller
A quick word from Damian…
I would like to thank and congratulate everyone in the club.
The support and encouragement are so important. The racing, road and mountain bike, are fundamental to all of our performances.
I love the weekly racing. I would not have the competitive chance that I did if it wasn't for being pushed by everyone at our races.
And the weekend training rides have to be mentioned. Just fantastic.
Thanks everyone involved.
Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club has every reason to be so proud
RESULTS SUMMARY
Downhill
Masters 3: Shannon R, 3rd
Elite Women: Bella G, 9th.
Elite Men: Matt E, 25th; Zac E, 44th
U19 Men: Spencer C, 45th
U17 Men: Jacob T, 37th; Ewan R, 52nd
U15 Men: Keegan C, 28th; Mannix P, 31st; Blake R, 32nd
U13 Men: Cooper H, 5th
XCO
Masters 7: Damian G, 1st and NATIONAL CHAMPION, Bruce H, 4th
U23 Women: Ruby D, 2nd
U15 Men: Ben R, 12th
XCC
U23 Women: Ruby D, 2nd
U15 Men: Ben R, 12th
XCR
Junior Relay: ‘North East Fliers’ including Ben R and Ruby R, 5th
Ant by a bee’s
By Dave Empey
It was a hot and steamy night on Tuesday 11 March but luckily there was only ‘some’ uphill in the downhill track. A new track was devised to inflict maximum pain and suffering and some really go-fast sections.
It was Ant Bateup who prevailed but only just. He and Archie Smith having equal combined times; however, it was Ant who had the fastest lap time of the night pipping Archie by two seconds. Archie must be commended because he had two identical lap times.
Rounding out the top five were Luke Vivash, Ben Ross and Tom Logan-Williams. These three were all close together but still 30 seconds behind the dynamic duo of Bateup and Smith.
Cam Dobson’s recent good form eluded him as he became geographically embarrassed on his first lap which put him a long way off the pace. however, he did have a nice ride through the mountain bike park.
Stu Clark also had one of those nights with a flat on the ride up and being MIA on the second lap. It might have been a guy that looked like Stu but I’m not sure. He was eventually sighted at the finish line.
As I write this on Tuesday night after the race, good luck to all the club members that will be racing national champs this weekend at Mt Buller.
A special ‘sucks to be you’ moment goes to Ryder Chadd. Unfortunately for Ryder he had a ‘hugey’ on the pump track at Buller last weekend and took a big hit so wasn’t able to race this weekend. This is a shame because he has been riding exceptionally well lately with several excellent results. Heal up Ryder, there are many more nationals to come for you!
Volunteers needed
We’re still looking for volunteers for next weekend’s downhill race.
After all this rain, it won’t be nearly so dusty.
Please contact Mel Green if you can spare a few hours.
The fight for second
By Dale Walton
So it was to be a two hour drive for the four of us from Eastern Cycling Club to race this weekend with Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club (MMBCC). We generally race criterium and graded scratch races with the odd yearly handicap thrown in, so we were all suitably apprehensive about the handicapping that each of us would receive given the hilly terrain, particularly at the start of the race.
The general intel from our good friends and MMBCC members Steve Duke and Craig Oliver would be “They`re shorter handicaps up here, so expect them to be full gas from the start`.
“Oh great!” we thought.
We headed out for a reccy of the course before meeting the friendly and welcoming Marshals & Commissaires and receive the pre-race brief.
I was in the second Scratch group (13:30) and thankfully the local riders were accommodating in ensuring none of us were immediately thrown out the back. They appeared content in working together as a group which was refreshing as Melbourne handicaps can be frantic and can end before they begin.
Up and over the second rise we were still together and were catching individual riders as other groups were splintering. The momentum was short lived as a red flag was raised at the first turnaround point but was a welcome chance to rest and recover before getting back into formation and pushing on.
On the left turn into Barwite Road, the group raised the intensity with the tailwind. I was starting to feel it so decided to sit in for a period as the local riders appeared quite strong and willing to rotate amongst themselves. Dave Moore asked me if I was cooked and I replied `a bit average` and looked to buy myself a bit of time before rejoining the rotations after the Barwite turnaround point.
By then we’d both picked up and dropped a number of riders from other groups.
Thankfully the push into the headwind was not as hard as expected but the group appeared to be losing its formation so in my mind, the threat of being caught by Scratch was ever increasing. We hit the main road and was full gas towards the final left turn and the finish straight.
On approach, the speed increased and the jostling for position started when one of the other groups passed us on the left and unexpectedly turned right towards the township! Luckily one of the regular riders correctly took the group into the finishing straight and we lined up in anticipation of the sprint.
Preferring a hill sprint and being told the local riders wouldn’t go early, I figured having a tail wind combined with the element of an early surprise, I`d launch into the sprint early in the hope I could hold it.
Half way up I could feel someone on my wheel and then slowly got passed by (I think) Ant Bateup. It became a one-on-one race of attrition as both of us were starting to fade. Not exactly knowing what position we were sprinting for, I put in a second effort just to try to get to the line in second position overall. (Because by the time we’d gotten to the line, Craig Wilson had already taken the win, warmed down and finished his first beer!)
I really don’t know how we held off Scratch, so credit to all the guys in the 13:30 group in taking it to the line together.
Thanks to all the Marshals and Commissaires for running a safe and enjoyable race, and making us feel more than welcome to join in. We`ll certainly be back to race again with MMBCC as we all thoroughly enjoyed the racing and the social side at the Mansfield Hotel afterwards.
Here are the results and Tony’s pics.
A special thanks also to Karyn & Richard Evans at Burnt Creek Cottages for their accommodation & hospitality.
Alpine Cycling Club Junior MTB series
By Caitlin Riley
Nine current and ex dirt critters travelled from Mansfield to Mount Beauty on Saturday to compete in the second last round of the Alpine Cycling Club Junior MTB series. It was a gravity enduro round with the kids keen to test out their downhill skills.
It was best of two runs with under 9’s, u11, u13, u15 all taking on the same track with some fast times and all improving on their first runs.
U5 & U7’s were on a shorter course but still have to earn their turns with a decent climb up to the start.
The weather was warm and and a great turn out from the Mansfield crew with Sienna, Miles, Scout & Duke all making the podium.
Well done to all, everyone put in a might effort!
RESULTS
U15 Boys: Duke H, 2nd
U13 Boys: Errol H, 12th
U11 Boys: Miles V, 2nd; Finley C, 7th; Barry H, 12th
U11 Girls: Sienna V, 1st
U9 Boys: Angus C, 9th
U9 Girls: Scout R, 1st
Well done all!