Downhill Elite Women
Once again the New Zealand women dominated the Oceania Championships and this time they proved too strong in the downhill for their Aussie counterparts on Sunday. Auckland’s Jennifer Makgill clocked an impressive 7.10.19 to claim her first Oceania title. In her final run, New Zealand’s National Champion, Scarlett Hagen from Queenstown was ten seconds off the pace in a time of 7.20:45. Hagen temporarily moved into second place, until World Junior Champion, Tracey Hannah set a 7.18:23 to split the kiwis and take second place. Hannah’s time was well outside of Makgill’s giving the kiwi her second Oceania medal after winning silver in the Mountain Cross on Friday.
Fourth place was taken out by New Zealand’s National silver medallist, Amy Laird from Christchurch which placed her in front of the Australian National Champion, Joanne Fox in fourth. Canberra pair Cara Smith and Claire Whiteman finished in sixth and seventh respectively.
The cancellation of the downhill seeding run on Saturday due to weather conditions meant it was difficult for spectators to gauge which riders were expected to perform well. On Sunday the rain disappeared but cold conditions prevailed.
The chilly conditions were unfamiliar to the tropical North Queensland rider, Tracey Hannah. “No matter how much you warm up it doesn't make a difference," she said. “My hands and feet are still frozen.”
Downhill Elite Men
Current World Downhill Champion, Sam Hill did not disappoint fans when he blitzed down the 'Cannonball Run' course in Thredbo on Sunday. The 21 year old Perth rider made up ground coming down in 6:14.39. Hill now lays claim to back to back Oceania Championships after taking out last year's event in Rotorua.
Hill was relieved to have a win in Australia this season after a crash at the National Championships one month earlier robbed him of that title.
World bronze medallist, Nathan Rennie’s time of 6.16.78 was respectable however it only secured him second place. After winning the previous two National level races on the same course Rennie knew that would not guarantee him a win. “When you’ve got riders like Sam it’s never going to be easy,” he said.
Canberra’s popular downhill rider, Jared Rando recorded a 6.21.12 to make it into third place. Even though it was well outside of his course record of 6.05:42 it proves that track conditions were affected by a full day of rain stopping some of the world’s fastest riders from challenging the record.
Mt Beauty’s Liam Panozzo had the fastest run of the day for much of the elite run allowing him a long stay in the ‘hot seat’ until Bryn Atkinson from the Blue Mountains knocked him out. National Series overall winner, Amiel Cavalier from Wollongong did not have enough speed to knock Atkinson out of fourth place. Cavalier and Panozzo finished in fifth and sixth respectively.
Under 19 Men Downhill
In one of the closest finishes on record at Thredbo, the second and third Under 19 men’s places were decided by officials who had to go to thousandths of a second to separate the pair. A dominating performance by Will Rischbieth got him a clear win with a time of 6.32.43. Officials then checked the timing clocks to decide between Queensland’s James Maltman and New Zealand’s Matthew Scoles for the order for the next two podium places. Seven thousandths of a second was the winning margin eventually giving Maltman second and Scoles third in a remarkably close finish for such a long course.
Under 19 Women Downhill
Canberra youngster, Caroline Buchanan added another title to her belt by winning the Under 19 Downhill Oceania Championship title. The 16 year old won the elite Mountain Cross title on Friday evening. Buchanan did crash on the downhill course but managed a 7:55.79 in her first Oceania downhill event.
In the Australian Open Downhill event run concurrently with the Oceania Championship, Slovakian rider Filip Polc elected to ride in expert men. Polc recorded the fourth fastest overall time of the day with a 6.23.14. At presentations Polc graciously allowed Brisbane’s Randall Huntington to take the title which won him accolades from fellow mountain bikers. The Slovakian was content to lay claim to fourth fastest as a comparison to some of the best downhillers in the world.
For further vision info, photos and interivews.
Sharon Payne
Media Manager
Mountain Bike Australia
Once again the New Zealand women dominated the Oceania Championships and this time they proved too strong in the downhill for their Aussie counterparts on Sunday. Auckland’s Jennifer Makgill clocked an impressive 7.10.19 to claim her first Oceania title. In her final run, New Zealand’s National Champion, Scarlett Hagen from Queenstown was ten seconds off the pace in a time of 7.20:45. Hagen temporarily moved into second place, until World Junior Champion, Tracey Hannah set a 7.18:23 to split the kiwis and take second place. Hannah’s time was well outside of Makgill’s giving the kiwi her second Oceania medal after winning silver in the Mountain Cross on Friday.
Fourth place was taken out by New Zealand’s National silver medallist, Amy Laird from Christchurch which placed her in front of the Australian National Champion, Joanne Fox in fourth. Canberra pair Cara Smith and Claire Whiteman finished in sixth and seventh respectively.
The cancellation of the downhill seeding run on Saturday due to weather conditions meant it was difficult for spectators to gauge which riders were expected to perform well. On Sunday the rain disappeared but cold conditions prevailed.
The chilly conditions were unfamiliar to the tropical North Queensland rider, Tracey Hannah. “No matter how much you warm up it doesn't make a difference," she said. “My hands and feet are still frozen.”
Downhill Elite Men
Current World Downhill Champion, Sam Hill did not disappoint fans when he blitzed down the 'Cannonball Run' course in Thredbo on Sunday. The 21 year old Perth rider made up ground coming down in 6:14.39. Hill now lays claim to back to back Oceania Championships after taking out last year's event in Rotorua.
Hill was relieved to have a win in Australia this season after a crash at the National Championships one month earlier robbed him of that title.
World bronze medallist, Nathan Rennie’s time of 6.16.78 was respectable however it only secured him second place. After winning the previous two National level races on the same course Rennie knew that would not guarantee him a win. “When you’ve got riders like Sam it’s never going to be easy,” he said.
Canberra’s popular downhill rider, Jared Rando recorded a 6.21.12 to make it into third place. Even though it was well outside of his course record of 6.05:42 it proves that track conditions were affected by a full day of rain stopping some of the world’s fastest riders from challenging the record.
Mt Beauty’s Liam Panozzo had the fastest run of the day for much of the elite run allowing him a long stay in the ‘hot seat’ until Bryn Atkinson from the Blue Mountains knocked him out. National Series overall winner, Amiel Cavalier from Wollongong did not have enough speed to knock Atkinson out of fourth place. Cavalier and Panozzo finished in fifth and sixth respectively.
Under 19 Men Downhill
In one of the closest finishes on record at Thredbo, the second and third Under 19 men’s places were decided by officials who had to go to thousandths of a second to separate the pair. A dominating performance by Will Rischbieth got him a clear win with a time of 6.32.43. Officials then checked the timing clocks to decide between Queensland’s James Maltman and New Zealand’s Matthew Scoles for the order for the next two podium places. Seven thousandths of a second was the winning margin eventually giving Maltman second and Scoles third in a remarkably close finish for such a long course.
Under 19 Women Downhill
Canberra youngster, Caroline Buchanan added another title to her belt by winning the Under 19 Downhill Oceania Championship title. The 16 year old won the elite Mountain Cross title on Friday evening. Buchanan did crash on the downhill course but managed a 7:55.79 in her first Oceania downhill event.
In the Australian Open Downhill event run concurrently with the Oceania Championship, Slovakian rider Filip Polc elected to ride in expert men. Polc recorded the fourth fastest overall time of the day with a 6.23.14. At presentations Polc graciously allowed Brisbane’s Randall Huntington to take the title which won him accolades from fellow mountain bikers. The Slovakian was content to lay claim to fourth fastest as a comparison to some of the best downhillers in the world.
For further vision info, photos and interivews.
Sharon Payne
Media Manager
Mountain Bike Australia