Mt Somers MTB race 2010

The Mt Somers MTB race turned out a good field for yet another well run Lions Club event! The day was a cracker and after only riding on one of the days during the week I was keen to have a good hit out. The race ended up being mainly between Anton and myself where we both managed to get ourselves lost on one part of the course losing minutes before we were back on track! By this time another rider called Brett Leyden was not far behind us but once on another climb we got out of his sights. Toward the end of the race on the final few kms of tar seal Anton and I knew it would come down to a sprint finish between us so we had a bit of a chat on the road (as you do!) While this was happening Brett had caught us up and boy did we get a hurry up! About 200m from the turn into the finish field Anton and I took off and I thought I had a good shot in the sprint as I had the inside line into the corner however there were a couple of slower riders in the shorter race who were right on my line! I lost most of my speed having to jump in behind Anton on the corner and after one final effort I got right beside him in the final few metres but had to settle for second. Even though I couldn't quite get the win it was an awesome finish to the race!

Blue Mountain MTB race

The 2010 Blue Mountain MTB race was a 63km event that doubled as the final round of the South Canterbury Cup. I went into this event feeling fresh and ready to race as I have been having a break from training. The day turned out to be a cracker with the sun blazing high in the sky but with an 8.30am start there was still a chill in the air! My aim for this race was to have fun, keep my nutrition up and not go out hard so I was still feeling good toward the end and that all went to plan! After the first few stages of the race there were a few undulating hills and I managed to break away from the rest of the leading pack on one of these. Instead of smashing it to secure my break away I just kept on doing what I was doing and got further away. At the 2 1/2 hour mark I decided to start winding it up as I knew I would be around the 3 hour mark finish time. This worked out well because my legs were feeling it on the final climb of the race that was before the shingle and tarseal road back to the finish line. I won overall and set a new course record to also win my catagory in the South Canterbury Cup. Big thanks to the Prestidge family for taking care of me over the weekend!

2010 Oceania MTB Champs

The 2010 Oceania MTB Champs were held down at Dunedin in Bethunes Galley. The course involved fast flowing single trails and a steep 4wd climb put in the mix also to create a hard paced blow out. After racing this track successfully in the South Island Cup I was looking foward to this race being the final of the season. I had come down thinking it was going to be wet so I had my wheels set up with new Geax Gato's but after riding closer to race day seeing the track was dry it was the Geax Saguaro's that were the tyre of choice and they were awesome! They gave excellent hook through the fast turns in the forest and with a bike running in top form I had an excellent set up for race day. The start came around in a flash and before I knew it we were smashing it up the first climb of the race! I was comfortably battling it out for the lead in the first 3 laps (of a 5 lap trace) but after that my legs started to go and I slipped back into 7th and was the 3rd NZ home. I was a bit dissapointed with my result but at the moment I dont quite have enough endurance. Something to work on over the Winter! I would like to thank my Sponsor Cycleways along with Geax tyres and my Coach Dave Plew for there excellent support this season along with my parents and other supporters out there helping me achieve the dream!

Pass to Pub 2010

The Pass to Pub 2010 sure turned on the weather conditions today with the sun blazing in the clear blue skys. We arrived with little time to spear and before I knew it I was on the start line. Once we had taken off I quickly realised that I was going to need to give my legs time to wined into the race as they were still feeling it from the previous days training. Sure enough they started feeling better throughout the race where Brent Millar, Thomas Prestige and myself battled it out. Getting towards the final stages of the race Thomas dropped off and that left Brent and I to finish it off. I put in a couple of attacks near the end to see what would happen and up the final pinch. The course then ducked onto a short run of tarseal where I had put a 5-10 metre gap on Brent just before the finish shoot. After thinking Brent had backed off I eased off once in the shoot and then looked back once I was halfway through. Little did I know I got a surprise when I saw he was putting in a final attack to the line but I quickly got back on the gas and won overall by a wheel length! Lesson learnt-race all the way to where it says finish!

2010 National Champs, Wellington

The 2010 NZ National Champs were held on Mt Victoria, Wellington. The course was by far one of the more demanding XC circuits that made for some hard yet exciting racing through the fast rooty trails and gravel paths. Race start came around and I had a pretty good start managing to get through most of the traffic. On lap one I was right where I needed to be until about 4/5 of the lap where Richard Anderson slipped infront of a couple elite riders and managed to get away. Lap 2 was still fairly good but on lap 3 I started to fade and made a couple of mistakes. Near the end of this lap Logan Horn had caught me up and past me but on lap 4 I failed to get back on his wheel and ended up finishing third.

Sherwood Enduro

The Sherwood Enduro MTB race was a 30km 4wd/farm track race that involved one testing long hard climb that gained about 600m elevation. The start involved a bunch ride along the first 10km of shingle roads then once we hit the major climb it was Anton and myself battling it out. After a steep testing top section of the up hill it was time for a well earnt break on the legs and a fairly full on down hill was at hand in the wet grass and steep and fast 4wd tracks. Once getting toward lower terrain and up and over a quick pinch climb I saw that Anton had stopped and found out after the race he had twisted his chain. I kept the hammer down just in case and ended up coming first and setting a new course record.

Looking foward to Nationals in two weeks time!

Kaiwara Classic MTB race

The Kaiwara Klassic MTB race was held on the hills from Culverdon to Cheviot that involved fast road sections and solid climbing along with sketchy shingle descents and 4wd roads. On the first climb Anton, Logan and myself broke away from the bunch. My legs were feeling it a bit after training the day before but eventually they came right on the second major climb where Anton and I broke away from Logan. Finally at the top of the climb it was along the undulating track then a fast shingle downhill that kept me on my toes trying not skid out on the freshly laid seal! Once back on the flat and tarseal road I was sitting in front with Anton on my tail waiting for the finish line that would be coming up soon. Anton attacked from behind before the turn into the paddock and after jumping back on his tail (thinking the finish did a lap around the back to the line) I spirinted through to the small creek bridge but there wasn't enough room to get infront. Finally around the slight turn after the bridge anton got around the bend a bit faster but I got some solid momentum going sprinting hard closing Anton in and saw a gap just coming onto the finishing shoot which I attacked for, managing to just nip ahead tightly claiming first place and setting a new course record.