South Island Cross Country Cup #2- NE

Timaru, New Zealand, February 8, 2009

2008 Results Results

Sharratt and Hamer win in Timaru

Last week's top place-getter Brendon Sharratt won in the elite men's category again on Sunday in round two of the New Zealand South Island Cup in Timaru. He put up a strong fight as the lead swapped several times throughout the race. Brad Tilby placed second, stepping up to the podium after his fourth place last week. After leading early on, Ash Hough faded slightly to finish third, keeping a fast-finishing Oliver Whalley at bay in fourth.

In the elite women's race, Cathy Hamer looked assertive from the start, taking a commanding lead early in the race. Erin Greene raced to second while Karen Collins placed third.

The technically challenging course meant a few riders came in dusty from minor offs as they negotiated the course at race speed. The Centennial Park course had less climbing than other events, but made up for it with tight technical sections. The venue doubled up, hosting both the South Island Cup and the XScenic event.

Young Anton Cooper, aged 14, proved that last week's performance of fifth overall was no coincidence, again crossing the finish line alongside the elite men. Cooper placed first in the Under 17 Men category and an astounding seventh overall.

Cooper races with Team PushBikes led by Richard Allin - PushBikes has two bike shops in Canterbury and supports promising local riders. The shop takes riders around the cross country race series, providing maintenance, coaching and covering costs. "It gives these up and coming riders a chance to excel, and it's great fun," said Allin.

Team PushBikes did well for the day with Karen Collins placing third in elite women, Logan Horn second in Under 19 Men, Craig Oliver first in Under 15 Men, Brad Hudson fourth Under 19 Men, and Tayla Harrison third in Under 17 men. Harrison, racing his first season of cross country said, "The course was a tough one, plenty of very technical sections and loose areas, but it was a good challenging race."

The third and final round in the NZCT South Island Cross Country Cup will be held on Coronet Peak in Queenstown next weekend and complete the series. The race will serve as a good warm up for those training for the New Zealand National Mountainbike Championships to be held in Nelson February 26 through March 1.

Results

South Island Cup

Elite men

1 Brendon Sharratt    1.55.35
2 Brad Tilby             0.48
3 Ash Hough              1.48
4 Oliver Whalley         2.09
5 Tim Madgwick           4.44
6 Nic Smith              6.32
7 Craig Tolson           7.19
8 Jeremy Inglis          9.53
9 Carl Jones            11.46
1 0 Connor Power        14.47
DNF Scott Green              

Elite women

1 Cathy Hamer         2.17.41
2 Erin Greene            5.27
3 Karen Collins          6.34
4 Sara Taylor           10.28
5 Katherine O'Neill     13.28
DNF Samara Sheppard          
  
Junior men Under 17

1 Anton Cooper        1.58.20
2 Joel MacMillan        11.55
3 Tayla Harrison        12.02
4 Oli Austin            35.19
5 Jed Findlay         1.10.52
DNF Jake Glover              
 
Junior men Under 19

1 Adrian Retief       1.58.00
2 Logan Horn             0.12
3 Kieran Hambrook        2.46
4 Bradley Hudson         3.21
5 Jeff Notman           12.21
6 Jamie Hawke           13.15
7 William Bowman        27.46
DNF Ethan Glover             
DNF Richard Anderson         
 
Senior men

1 Mike Crawford       2.06.30
2 Mark Richards          1.08
3 Braid MacRae           5.09
4 Nathan Sharratt        7.44
5 Sam Thompson           9.02
6 Andrew Wang           10.10
7 Kadin Morse           16.34
8 Cameron Cole          24.00
9 Rob Owens             25.33
DNF Brent Miller             
DNF George Bennett           
DNF Nick Ross                
 
Master men 30+

1 Kyle Wood           1.58.48
2 Nick Emery             7.09
3 Sean Waters           30.30
4 Aaron Giller          47.59
 
Master men 40+

1 Blair Stuthridge    2.11.31
2 Simon Cventry          1.18
3 Bruce Jenkins         21.17
4 Mark Chapple          26.38
 
Master women 30+

1 Hannah Thorne       2.33.11
2 Sharon Prutton        18.01
3 Bridget McMillan      21.34
DNF Dallis Waters            
 
Xscenic Race

Open men, 40km

1 Andrew Dineen       2.16.48
2 Milan Brodina          1.09
3 Jacob Rowse            3.08
4 Milne Andrew          13.46
5 Williams Brent        17.02
DNF Jayden Bowman            
DNF Gareth Davies            
DNF Mark Frisby              
DNF Jerry Kearney            
DNF Euan Cowie               
 
Open women

1 Amy Laird           1.37.18
2 Sam Yeo               12.18
3 Celia Lie             14.04
4 Sabrina Jonnier       26.45

Veteran men, 40km

1 Craig Phillips      2.09.42
2 Richard Howey         13.14
3 Brent Kershaw         43.41
4 John Crombie          49.54
DNF David Still              
 
U18 men, two-lap

1 Fabian Wybrow       1.41.44
2 Conner Jenkins        10.44
 
U15 men

1 Craig Oliver        1.36.07
 
U19 women

1 Rachel Richards     1.44.08
2 Sarah McDonald        11.40