Australian National Four Cross Series, Round #1 - NE

Sydney Olympic Park, October 20, 2007

2006 Results Results

Canberra racers dominate first National Mountain Bike Series

By Sharon Payne

National Four Cross Champion, Caroline Buchanan
Photo ©: Evan Jeffery

Canberra duo Caroline Buchanan and Leigh Darrell took out the first round of the National Four Cross Series at Sydney Olympic Park. Current national four cross champion Buchanan proved her recent crash at the World Championship had not gotten in the way of her gutsy riding style. Buchanan led early and stayed out of a crash between Sarsha Huntington and Shannon Jobson. Sydney rider Grace Ireland also stayed out of trouble to finish second. Then Huntington rode in to claim third and Jobson fourth.

The men's race was won by Leigh Darrell in a tough line up alongside inaugural winner Alex Lloyd, Thomas Hubert and Timothy Dunn.

"Thomas [Hubert] got a good start too. I wasn't quite in front to block him into the first corner to block him right out," explained Darrell.

A loss of control by Thomas Hubert in the third corner gave Darrell the lead he needed. "I just gave it everything I got in the last bit," Darrell said.

Leigh Darrell dominates
Photo ©: Evan Jeffery

With top riders like Luke Strom and defending national series winner, Terry Scarr eliminated today in the quarter finals Darrell will be certain to get challenged in tomorrow's second round of the National Series. "I'm going to try and come back and back it up," said Darrell.

In the Under 19 race, Canberra's Aiden Nemet was a clear winner while only two hundredths of a second separated second and third. Adam Thalor narrowly got second place with Queensland's Rhys Willemse being relegated to third. Fourth was Ryan Hunt.

The second round of the National Four Cross Series continues tomorrow afternoon also at Sydney Olympic Park.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Evan Jeffery/www.evanjeffery.com.au

Early gate starts for Under 17s at Sydney Olympic Park
The first step up jump
The Red Bull girls getting involved with some photos.
One of many riders on the day to sample some dirt.
Even elite riders need to unclip on the third corner.
National Four Cross Champion, Caroline Buchanan dominated the day.
There were some fine examples of riding all day.
Shaun O'Connor taking a smooth line through the third corner
The berms are incredibly large on the Sydney Olympic Park 4X course.
Even before the event started there were injuries.
Some riders seemed to be feeling some pain.
Plenty of air time for many.
Women's eventual winner, Caroline Buchanan, in action.
Luke Strom showed some early speed .
Rick Boyer worked out some tricky lines.
Men's winner Leigh Darrell in full flight
Julia Boer follows Caroline Buchanan through the corner
Timothy Dunn in the lead.
Leigh Darrell dominates by the fourth straight.

Results

Elite Men

1 Leigh Darrell        
2 Timothy Dunn           
3 Alex Lloyd          
4 Thomas Hubert         
 
Open Women 

1 Caroline Buchanan       
2 Grace Ireland        
3 Sarsha Huntington     
4 Julia Bohr           
 
Under 19 Men 

1 Aiden Nemet          
2 Adam Thalor         
3 Rhys Willemse       
4 Ryan Hunt           
 
Under 19 Women 

1 T. Courtney       
2 D. Beecroft       
3 E. Tatum          
 
Under 17 Men

1 B. Clark          
2 B. Nielsen        
3 R. Henderson      
4 J. Abbott         
 
Under 15 Men 

1 B. Muncaster      
2 J. Thalor         
3 K. Hughes         
4 M. Hughes         
 
Vet Men 

1 J. Harris         
2 M. Osborne        
3 M. Conghurts      
4 L. O'Keefe        
 
Sport Men 

1 S. Studdert       
2 T. Markus         
3 R. Franzolini    
4 B. Moore