Squidly Didly
16-03-2008, 06:18 PM
Nelson’s Kieran Bennett gave the hometown crowd plenty to cheer about when he took out the downhill title on the final day of the UCI Oceania Mountainbike Championships today.
It proved a New Zealand double with Queenstown’s Scarlett Hagen claiming the Oceania elite women’s honours, although she finished a close second behind visiting Great Britain rider Tracy Moseley, who was ineligible for the title.
The rugged Kaka Hill course in Nelson provided plenty of spectacular action, especially the 7m jump midway down the course, which drew the attention of most of the big crowd today.
Bennett, third in yesterday’s seeding run, upstaged his rivals to scorch down the course in 2m 57.06s. The 2007 national champion finished 14 seconds ahead of the in-form Christchurch professional Justin Leov, who won the South Island Cup round on the same course in January.
Experienced Levin rider Nathan Rankin was third 42 seconds behind the winner while top seed, Sam Blenkinsop (Wanganui) completed a disappointing competition when he crashed out and finished well down in the finishing order.
The best of the visiting Australians was Tim Eaton (Canberra) in seventh.
English professional Moseley, the 2006 World Cup downhill series champion and runner-up last year, enjoyed a superb weekend to take fastest time in the downhill, after second place in the dual slalom and a win in the four cross.
Hagen, who headed yesterday’s seeding run, was happy to finish so close to top rating Moseley and claim the Oceania title. Moseley won in 3m 32.08s, with the New Zealander only 3.8 seconds behind.
Hagen won’t have much time to savour victory, heading home tonight to resume university studies at Otago University tomorrow.
“I was pretty happy. Obviously it was good to top the seeding run but I am pleased with the performance today to finish so close to Tracy who is world class,” Hagen said.
“Yes I am back to university lectures tomorrow. But I am looking forward to competing in some World Cup races later this year.”
Blenheim’s Harriet Harper was third and Sheryl Macleod (Dunedin fourth).
Havelock North’s Aari Bennett won the junior men ahead of Queensland’s Tamryn Murrell in a time that would have given him fourth in the elite men while Canberra’s Caroline Buchanan completed a brilliant weekend by claiming the junior women’s honours.
A short course crosscountry was also staged today, won by another outstanding Australian prospect Dellys Starr, who was again in a class of her own in the elite women’s competition.
The men’s winner was American professional Barry Wicks although he was not eligible for the Oceania title, which went to runner-up, Australian Daniel McConnell.
Ian Hepenstall
Sports Media NZ Ltd
E: ian@sportsmedianz.com
Full results here (http://forums.farkin.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=97139&d=1205651871) (.pdf)
It proved a New Zealand double with Queenstown’s Scarlett Hagen claiming the Oceania elite women’s honours, although she finished a close second behind visiting Great Britain rider Tracy Moseley, who was ineligible for the title.
The rugged Kaka Hill course in Nelson provided plenty of spectacular action, especially the 7m jump midway down the course, which drew the attention of most of the big crowd today.
Bennett, third in yesterday’s seeding run, upstaged his rivals to scorch down the course in 2m 57.06s. The 2007 national champion finished 14 seconds ahead of the in-form Christchurch professional Justin Leov, who won the South Island Cup round on the same course in January.
Experienced Levin rider Nathan Rankin was third 42 seconds behind the winner while top seed, Sam Blenkinsop (Wanganui) completed a disappointing competition when he crashed out and finished well down in the finishing order.
The best of the visiting Australians was Tim Eaton (Canberra) in seventh.
English professional Moseley, the 2006 World Cup downhill series champion and runner-up last year, enjoyed a superb weekend to take fastest time in the downhill, after second place in the dual slalom and a win in the four cross.
Hagen, who headed yesterday’s seeding run, was happy to finish so close to top rating Moseley and claim the Oceania title. Moseley won in 3m 32.08s, with the New Zealander only 3.8 seconds behind.
Hagen won’t have much time to savour victory, heading home tonight to resume university studies at Otago University tomorrow.
“I was pretty happy. Obviously it was good to top the seeding run but I am pleased with the performance today to finish so close to Tracy who is world class,” Hagen said.
“Yes I am back to university lectures tomorrow. But I am looking forward to competing in some World Cup races later this year.”
Blenheim’s Harriet Harper was third and Sheryl Macleod (Dunedin fourth).
Havelock North’s Aari Bennett won the junior men ahead of Queensland’s Tamryn Murrell in a time that would have given him fourth in the elite men while Canberra’s Caroline Buchanan completed a brilliant weekend by claiming the junior women’s honours.
A short course crosscountry was also staged today, won by another outstanding Australian prospect Dellys Starr, who was again in a class of her own in the elite women’s competition.
The men’s winner was American professional Barry Wicks although he was not eligible for the Oceania title, which went to runner-up, Australian Daniel McConnell.
Ian Hepenstall
Sports Media NZ Ltd
E: ian@sportsmedianz.com
Full results here (http://forums.farkin.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=97139&d=1205651871) (.pdf)