Oceania MTB Champs

By Jeff | Published: March 9, 2010

All info on the Oceania MTB champs is housed in the events part of this website here

Venue Information with updated course maps on this page

Oceanias Technical Guide

Please note the following:

  1. A Team Managers/Riders meeting will be held at 7pm on Thursday March 18th at the NZ Academy of Sport Offices, 40 Logan Park Drive. Location Google Map
  2. U23 and Elite XCO athletes must register for their Saturday race during the allocated Friday 19th (1pm to 3pm) registration period, at Forrester Park.
  3. XCO practice on the full race course will be available from the afternoon of Tuesday March 16th on.

Oceanias Logo

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National Champs report

By Jeff | Published: March 3, 2010

RaboPlus Mountainbike National Championships Day Three Wrap
Downhill Survival at a Windy Long Gully

The third day of the 2010 RaboPlus Mountainbike National Championships was completed today at the Long Gully Downhill venue at Brooklyn in Wellington. Difficult weather conditions created a huge variable for the 200 Downhill competitors racing for National titles, with hot, dry and vicious gusting winds turning an already challenging race course into a treacherous race for survival. Likewise for the Short Track Cross Country competitors racing at Long Gully at midday – fierce head and cross winds added to the tactical contest for open men and women.

Harriet Harper

The Short Track Cross Country event was raced around a dirt criterium style circuit, winding in and out of the Downhill event village. An enthusiastic and vocal crowd urged the Short Track racers on, with the Open Womens field first on course for their 20 minute multi lap sprint. Newly crowned Cross Country National Champion Nic Leary (Rotorua) demonstrated that an attack from the front approach also works in this shorter format of event. Leary pressured the rest of the Womens field from the gun and stretched her competitors, just like yesterday with another brutal display of aggressive riding. The real contest was taking place for the minor podium spots between Fiona McDermid (Palmerston North), Monique Avery (Rotorua) and early on from Sara Taylor (Christchurch). McDermid retained just enough gas to cross the line only seconds in front of Avery.

The Mens Short Track was a tactical duel right through to the last lap of the 28 minute mens race. Brendan Sharratt (Wellington), Mike Northcott (Tokoroa) and Mark Leishman (Rotorua) were locked in a three way battle for much of the race until Sharratt faded. Leishman and Northcott then traded attacks for the remainder of the race, until 2010 National Cross Country Champ Northcott backed up yesterday’s success to gap Leishman on the second half of the last lap to take the win. Sharratt discovered new legs after fading mid race and slipping back into the clutches of Patrick Avery and Kyle Wood, to then clear out on his own to claim the third podium spot.

The Downhill race for National Championship titles was under way at 2pm. The morning’s seeding session produced a mixed bag of results across the age group categories, with many strong favourites being gathered up in the clutches of the gusting wind to fall off the pace. However, come race time and the summer form book regained its worth – deserved champions crowned across the board. Of note was the performance of George Brannigan (Hastings) who was racing in the Under 19 category for this title after a summer racing in the Elites. Brannigan convincingly won today, in a time that would have placed him 6th in the Elite field. Likewise Local Wellington rider Dan Meilink – like Brannigan Meilink seeded first in Senior Mens and backed that up to win his first Senior Mens Downhill National title.

In the Elite Womens race Harriet Harper (Blenheim) was after back to back National Championship titles in the prestiguous Downhill discipline. And she did this in style, winning over the fast improving Sarah Walker. BMX Olympian Walker was all praise after her foray into downhill racing, recognising first hand just how tough and uncompromising this sport is. Walker may just have enjoyed this experience so much that it won’t be the last seen of her on a 26″ downhill race bike.

The Elite Mens race was missing New Zealand’s two highest ranked racers – Sam Blenkinsop through injury and Justin Leov. However, the quality of field chasing this 2010 National title was extremely high, with all of NZ’s other top professionals and several visiting international athletes in the field. Wyn Masters (New Plymouth) seeded first, and the rest of the top ten seeded riders were right on his tail time-wise. But this race was to be Wyn Master’s finest moment and he followed through on his top seeding time to take the Elite Mens National Championship title from Wanganui’s Glenn Haden. Haden had won at Long Gulley before in similar conditions, and lost out to Master’s typically powerful and controlled display by only 0.3 seconds. Levin’s Nathan Rankin took third, with Cam Cole (Christchurch) and Four Cross National Champion Matt Walker (Kawerau) 4th and 5th. For Masters this title win seems to have been a long time coming, and for the likeable and charismatic Taranaki streak, totally deserved this year.
The RaboPlus Mountainbike National Championships finish tomorrow with the Hillclimb event on Mt. Victoria at midday.

Photo Credits – Caleb Smith
#6 – Cam Cole
#257 – Dan Meilink
#62 – George Brannigan
#110 Louis Hamilton (Under 17 National Champion)
#26 – Matt Scoles
#7 Nathan Rankin
#11 – Wyn Masters

Further information contact:
Chris Mildon, MTBNZ Event Coordinator
021 2309120

Photo Credits – Caleb Smith
#6 – Cam Cole
#257 – Dan Meilink
#62 – George Brannigan
#110 Louis Hamilton (Under 17 National Champion)
#26 – Matt Scoles
#7 Nathan Rankin
#11 – Wyn Masters

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NZ mtb festival opening bash

By Jeff | Published: February 25, 2010

The official opening of the New Zealand Mountain Bike Festival!

You and your fabulous guest are invited to the official opening for the NZ Mountain Bike Festival. Leave your bike at home and grab your gladrags for an evening with other riders from all over the country.

There will be lots of reminiscing, laughs and lies, and some due recognition for the people who made mountain biking tick.

Sunday February 28

7.00pm-8:00pm: Drinks, nibbles, special presentations
8.00pm- late: Let the celebrations continue (all public welcome to join in)

Chicago Bar – Queens Wharf, Wellington

Please RSVP by Friday 26 February to Ashley: circaworld@gmail.com

Hope to see you there!
-The NZ Mountain Bike Festival Crew
www.mountainbikefestival.co.nz

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Olympian Sarah Walker to race at National Champs this weekend

By Jeff | Published: February 25, 2010

RaboPlus Mountainbike National Championships Preview
World BMX Champion and Olympian to take on the Gravity Racers

The RaboPlus MTB National Championships are on this weekend in Wellington. Six National titles are up for grabs, and adding spice to the mix of competitors taking on the champs is World BMX Champion and 2008 Olympian Sarah Walker.

Kawerau’s Walker will compete in the Friday evening Four Cross feature, and also in the Downhill event which is a slight departure from her steady diet of BMX circuit racing around the world. Walker joins her brother Matt who specialises in these two disciplines – Matt is also a current NZ MTB Team Four Cross representative. The Walker siblings are sure to enjoy some rare time together in the same sport at this pinnacle event, and it will be fascinating to see how the Elite Womens racing unfolds with an athlete of Sarah’s calibre injected into the mix.

This Championship event is the one domestic event on NZ’s MTB calendar where internationally recognised National Champions are crowned. All of NZ’s top athletes will be competing in Dual Slalom, Four Cross, Cross Country, Downhill, Short Track Cross Country and Hillclimb disciplines vying for these titles a well as important NZ MTB Team selection ranking points. As added incentive again this year, the U19 Junior and U23/Elite category winners in Four Cross, Cross Country and Downhill disciplines all gain automatic selection to the NZ MTB Team for the 2010 World MTB Champs, so the stakes are high.

The RaboPlus National MTB Champs programme also kicks off the 25 year New Zealand Mountainbike Festival which runs through to next Saturday, March 6th with the running of the 25th edition of the Karapoti Classic, combined this year with the 2010 Marathon MTB Championships. In between the National MTB Champs this weekend, and the Karapoti next weekend is a week filled with fun events and social MTB gatherings celebrating the sport in NZ.

National Championships Events Schedule
Friday February 26th has Dual Slalom and Four Cross racing at Mt. Albert, Wellington from 2pm.
Saturday February 27th has Cross Country racing on Mt. Victoria, with the event base at the cycling velodrome in Hataitai. Age group categories are on a 10.30am race start, and U19 Juniors and U23/Elite categories on a 2pm race start.
Sunday February 28th has Downhill racing at Long Gulley, Brooklyn. Seeding starts at 11am, with the race run starting at 1.30pm
Sunday February 28th also has Short Track Cross Country racing at the Downhill event base at Long Gulley between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
Monday March 1st has the Hillclimb event taking place at 12.30 up Mt. Victoria, with the event base on the town side of the Mt. Victoria Tunnel.
Saturday March 6th has the running of the NZ Marathon MTB Championships in conjunction with the 25th Karapoti Classic.

For NZ Mountainbike Festival information.

Further information contact:
Chris Mildon, MTBNZ Event Coordinator
021 2309120

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NZ MTB Cup Round Six Wrap, Rotorua Feb 20-21

By Jeff | Published: February 22, 2010

Titles Decider Down to the Wire

The RaboPlus 2010 NZ MTB Cup was completed over the weekend in Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest. The six event national series in MTB Cross Country and Downhill was wrapped up in style at the world famous Rotorua MTB mecca, with tough racing across all Elite and age group categories.

Saturday’s Cross Country race was held in perfect conditions, on a multi-lap race course that couldn’t have been any better. Technically challenging, with tough climbs all worthy of a national series final the Whaka course stretched riders to the limit. Local Rotorua riders shone through across the age group categories on the morning race start, notable race winners being Garth Weinberg (Masters 1), Marcello Ojerio (Masters 2) and Nigel McDowell (Under 17 Mens). The feature Elite/U23 and U19 race in the afternoon kept the crowds enthralled, with tactical exchanges happening right through both mens and womens events.

The Elite Womens race was dominated again this week by Eloise Fry (Rotorua) who while riding to her own race plan at the front of the field, had to deal with constant and building pressure in the five lapper. Monique Avery (Rotorua) and Michelle Bellamy (Tokoroa) were locked in a two way duel right through the race and used their own tussle to exert pressure on Fry. However, to no avail with Fry riding too smart to be reeled in, eventually riding away to a three minute victory.

In the Elite Mens race, it was a similar story, however winner Mike Northcott (Tokoroa) didn’t have this one securely sewn up until he had the finish line in sight. A group of four determined athletes stalked Northcott from start to finish but just couldn’t break his hold on controlling the race off the front. Dirk Peters (Rotorua) saw off the challenges from Carl Jones (Rotorua), Brendon Sharratt (Wellington) and Stu Houltham (Wellington) and maintained contact with Northcott through to the fifth lap to secure second place, with Carl Jones recovering from a mid race slump to grasp a battling third place finish. Sharratt rode consistently to fourth, and did enough with this result to claim the NZ MTB Cup Elite Mens XC title for 2010.

The Under 19 mens race provided a lesson on how to destroy your opposition – Richard Anderson (Blenheim) exploded out of a tight, leading bunch of five to attack the race on the fourth and fifth laps, opening a gap he would hold through to the finish for an emphatic win. Sam Shaw (Rotorua) just held off Christchurch’s Logan Horn for the second podium step, with the chasing riders clearly exhausted.

Across the other side of Whaka Forest for the Sunday Downhill race, the 180 gravity aligned competitors were also treated to perfect racing conditions. Racing was always going to be tight, with the Rotorua race course not only a tough challenge but an ideal leveller for the high quality fields. Like the Cross Country, the country’s best downhillers were all at this event, chasing NZ MTB Cup titles and trying to haul as many points from this event as they could to secure overall placings.

The results sheet tells a story of form riders in all categories doing the job and winning. Especially in the Under 17 and Under 19 categories, pressure was extremely high – however the top two riders coming into Rotorua on NZ Cup form shone through to take those wins. Rupert Chapman (Christchurch) and Jay Barrett (Havelock North) also secured overall NZ MTB Cup series wins on the back of their dominance at this final event.

The major draw card and feature class for the day was the Elite Mens race. Several riders could have taken this win with all the top contenders having clean race runs and doing everything they could to post the fastest time on course. Fastest seed Nathan Rankin (Levin) wanted this win badly, but Rankin just fell short by only 0.13 seconds to visiting US Pro Luke Strobel. For Strobel, this win completes his racing visit to NZ on a high note, and he was glowing in his praise for the quality of the events he has competed in and the high quality competition. New Plymouth’s Wyn Masters rounded out the podium with a third, a slim 0.07 seconds back from Rankin. For Rankin however, glory was to come with securing the NZ MTB Cup Elite Men’s DH title for 2010 on the back of his strong seeding and race results – another national title to add to his long list of accomplishments in this sport.

With the RaboPlus 2010 NZ MTB Cup now completed and in the bag, riders have a short turnaround to prepare for the RaboPlus National Mountainbike Champs starting this Friday Feb 26th in Wellington – this is the one event during the domestic racing season where internationally recognised National Champions are crowned in Cross Country, Downhill and Four Cross.

Round Six Results
NZ MTB Cup Cross Country Round Six results here
NZ MTB Cup Downhill Round Six results here

Series Results
North Island Cup Cross Country results here
North Island Cup Downhill results here

NZ MTB Cup Cross Country results here
NZ MTB Cup Downhill results here

Further information contact:
Chris Mildon, MTBNZ Event Coordinator
021 2309120

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NZ MTB Cup Round Six Preview, Rotorua Feb 20-21

By Jeff | Published: February 20, 2010

Rotorua hosts the sixth and final round of the RaboPlus 2010 NZ MTB Cup this weekend in the Whakarewarewa Forest. The six event national series in MTB Cross Country and Downhill disciplines has been all over the country throughout January and February – with the series culminating in the RaboPlus MTB National Championships at the end of the month in Wellington.

Competitors in the NZ MTB Cup are no strangers to the popular Whaka Forest, and the Rotorua MTB Club hosts of this event always provide quality race courses that are both challenging and enjoyable at the same time – a mix hard to replicate in many locations.

As the final race of the NZ Cup, it is also the last opportunity for competitors to gain points towards the overall NZ MTB Cup titles, with several age group and Elite categories not yet decided. The results in Rotorua this weekend will determine who takes the top step of the podium in many cases, so racing is sure to be intense with plenty at stake. This is also the final Cup round before the RaboPlus National Mountainbike Champs next weekend in Wellington – a final opportunity to have a high quality race before National titles are put on the line.

Downhill practice at Nursery Rd, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua runs between 9am and 5pm on Saturday, with seeding and racing taking place on Sunday from 10.30am.
Cross Country racing at Long Mile Rd, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua has age group categories on a 10.30am race start on Saturday morning, with Elite, U19 and U23 categories racing on a 2pm race start.

Further information contact:
Chris Mildon, MTBNZ Event Coordinator
021 2309120

Katie O'Neill

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NZ MTB Cup DH and XC Points After Five

By Chris | Published: February 18, 2010

Now updated after 5 Rounds, points tables for the national level NZ MTB Cup and NI Cup three race mini-series can be found here

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Oceanias Technical Guide Released

By Chris | Published: February 17, 2010

The Technical Guide for the 2010 UCI Oceania Championships, being held in Dunedin in March can be downloaded here This guide contains useful and some essential information for competitors intending to enter and race this event.

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NZ MTB Cup Round Five Wrap, Tauranga/Hamilton Feb 12-14

By Jeff | Published: February 15, 2010

New Venues Deliver!

cam cole

Elite Men: Cameron Cole (chch), photo Jono Church

Round Five of the RaboPlus NZ MTB Cup was completed over the weekend in Tauranga and Hamilton. Both venues were new to national level racing and both delivered in spades to the high quality competitive fields and spectators alike. Saturday’s Downhill at the 2Stage Mountainbike Park in Welcome Bay, Tauranga saw an estimated 3000 spectators flood the race course to watch stunning action, while Sunday’s Cross Country race at the Pukete Mountainbike Trails also drew a huge number of spectators to watch the intense action on the inner city trail complex.

The new 2Stage race course was constructed specifically for this event, and competitors relished the loose, dusty conditions to post close times at the front of all age group categories. Several competitors took their opportunities with both hands, and riders not seen on the podium this summer rose from the ranks to stamp their mark at Tauranga’s first downhill event of this calibre. Jay Barrett (Havelock North) continued his winning NZ MTB Cup form in the Under 17 category on the way to posting the 8th fastest time of the day, while Vaughan Woolhouse (Napier, Under 19) and Freddie King (Christchurch, Senior) both won at this new venue, against highly competitive fields. Sarah Atkin (Wellington, Open Women) finally took the top step of the podium after threatening to do so at previous rounds, winning by a huge 12 second margin

The Elite Mens race was a showdown that wasn’t to be missed. The morning’s seeding showed that this was anybodies race to win – the slightest mistake or missed line would prove to be the difference between glory or a mid pack result. Round Four winner Glenn Haden (Wanganui) felt the full force of bad luck – Haden punctured in his race run ruining any chance of a repeat this week. USA professional Luke Strobel qualified fastest, but just couldn’t replicate that clean run with too many mistakes in his race run fading to 21st. So it was that the race hardened and seasoned riders came to the fore. Cameron Cole (Christchurch) rode a calculated run to take the win this week from Wyn Masters (New Plymouth), with Switzerland’s Martin Frei posting his best result this summer with the 3rd. Matt Scoles (Alexandra) and Nathan Rankin (Levin) rounded out the top five by the narrowest of margins.

Sunday’s cross country race at Hamilton’s Pukete Mountainbike Trails wasn’t a likely venue for a race of national calibre given the lack of climbing on the only slightly undulating course. However, with high quality athletes attacking the course under race conditions, this perception changed immediately – competitors gave the high intensity race course the thumbs up and spectators were served up a treat of tactical, attacking cross country racing.

The morning’s age group categories gave a taste of what was to come during the afternoon Elite/U23/U19 race start. Waikato locals showed the benefit of local knowledge and a tactical approach to winning here – James Gurney (Master 1) and Josh Parkin (Under 17) demonstrating to perfection the art of a last lap attack for the lead, claiming wins in their categories with ruthless displays of attacking riding.

As with Saturday’s Downhill race, the Elite afternoon race was one that wasn’t to be missed. Two Elite riders grasped their opportunities today to claim podium top steps. Eloise Fry (Rotorua) with a start to finish victory, heading off constant pressure from Katherine O’Neill (Rotorua) and a fast finishing Monique Avery (Rotorua) in the Elite Womens, and Patrick Avery (Rotorua) in the Elite Mens. Avery diced for the lead during his six lap race with Hamilton rider Scott Thorne, and attacked on the last lap to finally open a slim gap on Thorne who had set the pace for most of the race. For Avery, this race was a watershed – still an Under 23 rider, this was Avery’s first big win in the Elite ranks and his confidence will be boosted no end for the NZ MTB Cup final next weekend, and the National and Oceania Championship events which follow. Auckland’s Locky McArthur rode an aggressive race in the Under 19 category and was never in danger of relinquishing a lead he steadily built up over Rotorua’s Sam Shaw during their five lap race. Likewise for McArthur, this was his first big nationals win and shows his potential to kick on from here. Alexa Peters also rode a strong tactical race to win the Under 19 Womens race.

The RaboPlus NZ MTB Cup continues this weekend with the sixth and final rounds of the Cross Country and Downhill taking place in Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest on Saturday and Sunday Feb 20/21.

Full results for NZ MTB Cup Round Four Downhill here
Full results for NZ MTB Cup Round Four Cross Country here

Photo credits: Glenn Haden and Matt Scoles – Jeff Carter; Cam Cole and Sean McCarroll – Jono Church

Further information contact:
Chris Mildon, MTBNZ Event Coordinator
021 2309120

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Lucky thirteen new cycle trails planned

By Jeff | Published: February 11, 2010

Ministry of Tourism Release:

Thursday 11 February 2010

Thirteen cycle trails got the nod today to go through to feasibility studies for inclusion in Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail project.

Described as the “stand-out winners” from the 54 applications that applied for funding in December, the successful applicants will now have a feasibility study carried out where the vision proposed in the Concept plans will be priced and checked to ensure they can be built and that they will deliver what they promise.
Read More »

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