Scott
07-03-2006, 09:36 AM
GALLAGHER GROUP OCEANIA XC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday, March 05, 2006
From BikeNZ.
Kashi Leuchs and Rosara Joseph have taken out the Elite mens and womens titles respectively at the Gallagher Group Oceania Cross Country Championships in Rotorua.
In addition to being a major form indicator for the Commonwealth Games the wins have assured New Zealand an extra place in the men’s and the women’s fields at the World Champs on the same course in August.
The men’s race was a tightly fought battle with a group of four riders sharing the lead over the six laps of the race. Top Canadian professional rider Geoff Kabush who was ultimately the first over the line, but was not eligible for the Oceania Championships title, took the lead with a blistering turn of pace on the fifth lap and never gave up the lead to take the win in a time of 2 hrs 00 mins 15 secs.
In the women’s race Rosara Joseph dominated from start to finish to win from Annika Smail of Rotorua. On a very tough course and against top quality field, Joseph showed that she has the type of all round ability to be a real contender at the Commonwealth Games and at the World Championships. In her first year of serious mountain bike competition in 2005 Rosara finished in the top 20 at last year's World Championships in Livigno in Italy and she just seems to get stronger.
Also decided on the day were the New Zealand National Series winners with Rotorua rider's Clinton Avery and Annika Smail completing the quinella - a great day for the locals.
Overall, the day was a huge success for the New Zealand riders and the event organising team who were using the event as a test run for the New Zealand Community Trust UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships.
ELITE MEN
1.) Geoff Kabush (Canada) – Not eligible for Oceania medal
2.) Kashi Leuchs (NZ) – Oceania Champion
3.) Sid Taberlay (Aus) – 2nd Oceania Championships
4.) Christopher Jongewaard (Aus) – 3rd Oceania Championships
ELITE WOMEN
1.) Rosara Joseph (NZ) – Oceania Champion
2.) Annika Smail (NZ) – 2nd Oceania Championships
3.) Kiara Bisaro (Canada) - Not eligible for Oceania medal
4.) Robyn Wong (NZ) – 3rd Oceania Championships
Under 23 Men
1 Shaun Lewis (Aus) 2.04.32
2 Clinton Avery (NZ) 2.05.23
3 Daniel McConnell (Aus) 2.06.28
Under 23 Women
1 Lisa Mathison (Aus) 1.53.06
2 Myra Moller (Cook Islands) 1.55.18
3 Fiona Lindsay (NZ) 1.55.57
Under 19 Men
1 Daniel Johnston (Aus)
2 Daniel Braunstein (Aus)
3 Duncan O’Regan (NZ)
Under 19 Women
1 Monique Avery (NZ)
2 Katie O’Neil (NZ)
3 Hayley Robertson (NZ)
Sunday, March 05, 2006
From BikeNZ.
Kashi Leuchs and Rosara Joseph have taken out the Elite mens and womens titles respectively at the Gallagher Group Oceania Cross Country Championships in Rotorua.
In addition to being a major form indicator for the Commonwealth Games the wins have assured New Zealand an extra place in the men’s and the women’s fields at the World Champs on the same course in August.
The men’s race was a tightly fought battle with a group of four riders sharing the lead over the six laps of the race. Top Canadian professional rider Geoff Kabush who was ultimately the first over the line, but was not eligible for the Oceania Championships title, took the lead with a blistering turn of pace on the fifth lap and never gave up the lead to take the win in a time of 2 hrs 00 mins 15 secs.
In the women’s race Rosara Joseph dominated from start to finish to win from Annika Smail of Rotorua. On a very tough course and against top quality field, Joseph showed that she has the type of all round ability to be a real contender at the Commonwealth Games and at the World Championships. In her first year of serious mountain bike competition in 2005 Rosara finished in the top 20 at last year's World Championships in Livigno in Italy and she just seems to get stronger.
Also decided on the day were the New Zealand National Series winners with Rotorua rider's Clinton Avery and Annika Smail completing the quinella - a great day for the locals.
Overall, the day was a huge success for the New Zealand riders and the event organising team who were using the event as a test run for the New Zealand Community Trust UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships.
ELITE MEN
1.) Geoff Kabush (Canada) – Not eligible for Oceania medal
2.) Kashi Leuchs (NZ) – Oceania Champion
3.) Sid Taberlay (Aus) – 2nd Oceania Championships
4.) Christopher Jongewaard (Aus) – 3rd Oceania Championships
ELITE WOMEN
1.) Rosara Joseph (NZ) – Oceania Champion
2.) Annika Smail (NZ) – 2nd Oceania Championships
3.) Kiara Bisaro (Canada) - Not eligible for Oceania medal
4.) Robyn Wong (NZ) – 3rd Oceania Championships
Under 23 Men
1 Shaun Lewis (Aus) 2.04.32
2 Clinton Avery (NZ) 2.05.23
3 Daniel McConnell (Aus) 2.06.28
Under 23 Women
1 Lisa Mathison (Aus) 1.53.06
2 Myra Moller (Cook Islands) 1.55.18
3 Fiona Lindsay (NZ) 1.55.57
Under 19 Men
1 Daniel Johnston (Aus)
2 Daniel Braunstein (Aus)
3 Duncan O’Regan (NZ)
Under 19 Women
1 Monique Avery (NZ)
2 Katie O’Neil (NZ)
3 Hayley Robertson (NZ)