Austalian downhill championships - CN

Thredbo, NSW, Australia, January 20-22, 2006

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Race 4 - January 22: Women Downhill

Muxlow returns but Hannah takes title

By Andrew Threlfall/www.freewheel.com.au

Tracey Hannah
Photo ©: Andrew Threlfall

Coming back from a long absence from the DH scene, former Australian DH Champion Tai-Lee Muxlow made an appearance and with no international riders this year, the top spot of the podium was going to be fought for, tooth and nail.

Although the field was small with only ten starters the racing was only ever between four of them. Throwing down the gauntlet in the seeding run with a 6:42.47 was the current champion Tracey Hannah. The next rider was Kona's Claire Whiteman over twenty seconds behind with a 7:07.22. Muxlow and Emma McNaughton (GT) took up the third and fourth positions.

It seemed that with a time that was so much faster than any of her competitors the 17-year-old Hannah had it in the bag…sure enough, when the racing had finished, she was still in 1st position leaving McNaughton, Whiteman and Muxlow to fight for third and fourth. In the end it was McNaughton that grabbed second while Muxlow finished with the bronze in third.

Being Australian National DH Champion isn't a new thing for little Tracey. This is the third consecutive time she has won the title. Until this weekend she shared the title with older brother Michael. Unfortunately for him, however, he could only post a time quick enough for 13th in Elite men.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Andrew Threlfall/www.freewheel.com.au

Tracey Hannah was miles in front of all the women, and a lot of the men as well.
Emma McNaughton - the 2005 Series winner, couldn’t match Tracey’s time.
Tai-Lee Muxlow was back after time off the bike.
Elite Women’s Podium

Results

Elite Women
 
1 Tracey Hannah (Qld)                                           6.42.67
2 Emma McNaughton (NSW)                                         7.12.79
3 Tai-Lee Muxlow (NSW)                                          7.10.05
4 Claire Whiteman (ACT) Kona/Mt. Buller                         7.07.22
5 Sarah Booth (SA)                                              7.46.91
6 Joanne Fox (NSW)                                              7.54.70
7 Cara Smith (ACT)                                              8.04.26
8 Jemma Donovan (WA)                                            7.59.94
9 Carla McLeish (Vic)                                           8.35.45
10 Louise Cook (ACT)                                            8.28.55

Sport Women
 
1 Sarsha McGowen (Qld)                                          8.16.34
2 Leigh Douglas (Can)                                           8.33.51
3 Julia Martin (SA)                                             8.39.58
4 Melissa Hamilton                                              8.56.57
5 Amanda Paterson (Vic)                                         9.32.53
6 Anna Lagutina (Vic)                                           9.37.71
7 Susan Forrester (NSW)                                         9.45.74
8 Bindi Hatcher (NSW)                                          10.21.86
 
Veteran Women
 
1 Samantha Thompson (NSW)                                       8.04.13
2 Julie Harris (SA)                                            10.45.89
 
Masters Women
 
1 Sharon Jan (NSW)                                              8.35.20
 
Under 15 Women
 
1 Alice Minahan (NSW)                                           9.35.00
2 Siobhan Jones                                                13.33.39
DNS Allison Morris                                                     
DNS Jessica Allsop