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Australian MTB Series - NE
Thredbo, NSW, Australia, December 15-16, 2007
Race 1 - December 15: Four cross
Buchanan wins two awards and one race in one night
By Sharon Payne
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Canberra's Caroline Buchanan capped off a successful evening during which she won cycling awards in both mountain biking and BMX. The 17 year-old National Four Cross Champion was unable to attend the Cycling Australia Awards held in Adelaide previous night as she preferred to race the National Series Four Cross event in Thredbo.
Buchanan won the elite women's race beating World Championship silver downhill medallist Tracey Hannah from Cairns after a close contest in the preliminary heats. Buchanan now leads the national series with third place Sarsha Huntington (Brisbane) retaining her second place overall.
Buchanan and Hannah were close in the heats but according to bystanders Buchanan raised the bar in the final. "I think I just got adrenaline in the final," explained Buchanan. "I tried a different line in the first corner and it worked. I had a good start as well."
"I knew if I got around the first corner I could hold it from there,"she said.. With only two rounds remaining in the national series Buchanan is favourite to take out the series title for a second year in a row.
Leigh Darrell, made it a Canberra double when he won the elite men's class securing a firm hold on the series lead. Darrell did not let his guard down and won every race throughout the night. He rode the first off camber sweeper to perfection and got the edge over his opponents.
Second was Thomas Hubert (Merewether) and third went to Queenslander Adam Nicholson. Tim Dunn (Warrimoo) had the best gate starts all night and placed fourth in the final.
Shaun O'Connor was the top U19 man while U17 rider Ben Clark won against a top field. Adelaide's Connor Fearon won the Under 15 class.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Evan Jeffery/www.evanjeffery.com.au
- And the disciples pondered what he had to say.
- Cody Eichhorn shows off his style.
- Benjamin Clarke working the berm in the second corner.
- Ryan Hunt leading Rhys Willemse into the second turn.
- Crashed and burned in the thick dust.
- Second place in the men's was Adam Nicholson.
- Caroline Buchanan on her way to another win.
- Leigh Darrell was just too good on the day.
- The Huntington’s relaxed after the MTNX.
- Last minute track grooming.
- The future of the sport is the up and coming youngsters.
- Shaun O’Connor was as smooth as silk on the Thredbo MTNX course.
- Riders scoped all the available lines.
- Goggles were the only way to keep the flies out of your eyes.
- Randall Huntington leading the charge into the first turn.
- James Maltman and Rick Boyer dicing for space in the first turn.
Results
Elite Men
1 Leigh Darrell
2 Thomas Hubert (Elite cycle imports, freak industries, FUNN)
3 Adam Nicholson
4 Tim Dunn (Lifecycles - Penrith)
5 Jarah Breese (39) (SWIFT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING, SCOTT GOGGLES, STREAMLINE CYCLES)
6 Thomas Twentyman
7 James Maltman
8 Alex Lloyd
9 Ricky Boyer
10 Terry Scarr
11 Randal Huntington (For The Riders.com , Norco , Sram , Trivativ)
12 James Collins (Trek Australia, Bontrager)
13 Shane Wode
13 Cody Eichhorn (Spy Optic, EVS, Spearman Cycles)
15 Nathan Rennie
16 Joshua Button (Mongoose-fox,lotek,maxxis,crankbrothers,sram,rockshox,adidas)
Michael Young (UMF Bikes, Answer, Utopia Optics)
Ashley Gray
Adam Smithson
Cameron Allonby (ForTheRiders.com)
Dennis Beare (Unit, Specialized)
Daniel Castillo
Chris Herron
Mitchell Scarr
Gavin Turner
DNS Ricky Lee (Raw NRG)
DNS Luke Madill
DNS Amiel Cavalier
DNS Barton Moore
Open Women
1 Caroline Buchanan (KHS Bicycles, Unit Clothing , Crank Bros, Bike Shed CBR, RawNRG)
2 Tracey Hannah (Raw NRG)
3 Sarsha Huntington (For The Riders.com , Norco)
4 Emma Tatum (U19)
Danielle Beecroft (U19)
U19 Men
1 Shaun O’connor (614)
2 Matt Walker (Sombrio/Drift bike style newcastle)
3 Ryan Hunt (Utopia optics, Camden cycles)
4 Rhys Willemse (Intense Tyre System, Santa Cruz Bikes, Cropthorn Clothing, FTR, Funn, The Products)
5 Jock Farrington
6 Oscar Lapstun
7 Mitch Forbes
8 Hugh Balcom
James Horton
Ben Wilson
DNS Raffi Moss (Raw NRG, Castech Sports Timing)
DNS John Stewart
Veteran Men
1 Stephen Robinson
2 Kym Boxall (C.R.I.M.E)
3 Mic Longhurst (Percentage Bikes)
4 Albert Bacci
Ed Breen (Mad Dog)
Steven Humphreys
U17 Men
1 Benjamin Clarke (Blackmans Cycles GT Cycles)
2 Graeme Mudd
3 Blake Nielsen ( COVE BIKES SOUTHSHORE DIST LIFECYCLES)
4 Ryan Henderson (MCS BYCICLES)
5 Samuel Jones ("Spearman Cycles "Spearman Cycles Mum and Dad")
6 Mum and Dad"
7 James Shepherd (CRIME Cycles)
8 Liam Melville (Turramurra Cyclery)
9 Benjamin Leslie (Sombrio)
10 James Green
11 Brendon Jones
12 Matthew Mullins ("Endeavor Cycles)
13 M&D
Max Lobigs
Beaver Tim (Raw NRG)
Nicholas Luxford
Michael Dargan (Raw NRG)
DNS Keiran Sullivan
DNS Brock Harrison
DNS David Manton (Mum and Dad)
U15 Men
1 Connor Fearon
2 Bowen Muncaster
3 Max Hughes
4 Jordan Butler
5 Angus Easthope
6 David Strain
7 David McMillan
7 Aidan Vahtrik
Joey Vajvoda
Keiran Dixon
David Maggs
Cameron Patterson
Joel Willis
Sport Men
1 Shaun Hughes
2 Rick Franzolini
3 Thomas Markus
4 Chris Quain
Russell Luczka
Sam Whittemore
Nathan Valbonesi
DNS Jiel Case
DNS Shaun Fry
DNS Jarrah Davies
DNS Michael Houghton
DNS Joshua Dallas
DNS Julian Lang
DNS Nick Maher
DNS Gavin Maiden
DNS Robert Hochings
