NZ MTB National Series DH #3

Nelson, January 18, 2003

The brand new track at the Maitai Valley, Nelson saw some more great racing in the downhill competition on Saturday. This was the first downhill race that counts for UCI points which gives the riders points for international rankings. The top half of the track is fast and rocky while the lower section is more tight and technical. There was great viewing for the large spectator crowd who could see the riders for about half of the race.

The Pro-Elite men again saw a tight margin between the National Champion Tim Nelson (Christchurch) who managed to win his second DH race in a time of 2:42.66 - beating the National Series 2001 and 2002 winner Nathan Rankin (Levin) by just over one second. (2:42.66). John Kirkcaldie participated for his first downhill race of the series - he is NZ's top ranked international downhill rider. Kirkcaldie is the North American (NORBA) downhill champion for 2001 and 2002. After having a few months off training, he is starting to get back into action and raced in this third round in Nelson. He showed that even with the break he is in good form finishing third with a time of 2:49.83 - just over seven seconds behind Rankin. Kirkcaldie is not eligible for series points as he has not pre entered for the National Series. He entered OTD (on the day) for Nelson to use this as training for other events.

No Pro-Elite women raced - Vanessa Quin, our top Downhill rider, recently broken her collarbone and so has not been able to compete. She is hoping to race in the finals at Auckland in March.

The promising downhill junior rider Scarlett Hagen had some bad luck with round three. She broke her toe on practice day and then on race day, Hagen was caught off guard and crashed on her run down. Hagen showed her determination though as she carried on and finished the race.

Results

Hardtail Women

1 Jess Townshend                   5.41.2

Hardtail Men

1 Leighton Neal                    3.32.7
2 Richard Westerby                   16.7
3 Chris Beverland                    24.1
4 James Duncan                       24.4
5 Matthew Hughes                     30.1
6 Mark Stirling                      30.4
7 Grant Kellett                      41.4
8 Michael Rowan                      44.2
9 Mitch Anderson                     57.7
10 Andrew Bruce                    1.00.7
11 Philip Vernon                   1.40.0
12 Zac Hogg                        4.18.0

Master 30+ Women

1 Kirsten Drabble                  4.42.0
2 Nancy Rehrer                    10.34.0

Senior Women

1 Keli Finch                       4.32.4
2 Anneliese Carlson                  32.6
3 Patricia Wrigley                   50.7
4 Kate Mcdougall                   4.20.2

Junior Women

1 Scarlett Hagen                   6.31.0

Master 40+ Men

1 Mark Simmons                     3.49.2
2 Mark Angus                         42.4
3 Lloyd Moutler                    1.28.9
4 Clive Vernon                     3.00.5

Master 30+ Men

1 Graeme Morgan                    3.24.7
2 Stuart Fisher                      12.3
3 Raymond Ferguson                   18.2
4 Luke Simmons                       24.7
5 Andrew Dudley                      26.3
6 Bruce Anderson                     41.8
7 Andy Urwin-Wells                   42.3
8 Greg Smith                         47.2
9 Michael Carden                     51.1
10 Mark Hellier                      59.0


Senior Men

1 Thomas Winwood                   3.02.3
2 Mathew Hyland                      11.0
3 Corey Russ                         13.4
4 Lance Harris                       24.7
5 Fife Macgibbon                     24.9
6 James Baron                        25.6
7 Ryan Mitchell                      27.5
8 Jeremy Forlong                     28.4
9 Giles Russell                      28.8
10 Nathan Timko                      31.3
11 Jarrad Winter                     36.5
12 Aaron Gates                       38.4
13 Christian Wingate                 38.5
14 Jonathon Whyte                    39.5
15 Matthew Mayhead                   42.8
16 Campbell Wilson                   42.8
17 Ben Rafferty                      44.2
18 Leon Roff                         46.5
19 Richard Rollinson                 50.0
20 Mark Chadderton                   52.0
21 Jason Savill                      53.7
22 Kerry Templeton                   56.8
23 Callum Smith                      58.3
24 Steve Howes                     1.03.9
25 Manu Berthonier                 1.04.2
26 Cameron Empson                  1.11.9
27 Kevin Vernon                    2.01.5
28 Steven O'conner                 3.28.0
29 Hayden Mckay                   16.11.5

Junior U17 Men

1 Samuel Blenkinsop                3.14.8
2 Kieran Bennett                      7.0
3 Wyn Masters                         9.1
4 Zac Williams                       22.3
5 Caleb Warrender                    51.6
6 Paul Langlands                     53.2
7 Jason Meilink                    1.19.3
8 Daniel Meilink                   3.42.5

Junior Men

1 Reon Boe                         3.12.2
2 Des Curry                           4.4
3 Gary Porter                         7.0
4 Craig Pattle                        8.1
5 Rob Farmer                         16.1
6 Matt Fryer                         18.3
7 Muzza Mcinnes                      29.7
8 Ben Sanders                        33.4
9 Sean Macmillan                     50.7
10 Mike King                         50.9
11 James Rogers                      58.8
12 Rob Gardner                     1.01.2
13 Scott Geater                    1.32.4

Pro-Elite Men

1 Tim Nelson                       2.42.7
2 Nathan Rankin                       1.0
3 John Kirkcaldie                     7.2
4 Daniel Lynch                       12.6
5 Mark Johnston                      15.2
6 Justin Leov                        17.0
7 Scott Sheldon                      18.6
8 James Dodds                        19.9
9 Hadley Boyce                       26.2
10 Tim Mackersy                      27.9
11 Lester Perry                      39.9
12 Tom Holland                       40.6
13 Chris Jordon                      44.1
14 William Furniss                   45.4
15 Ian Kay                           49.4
16 Glenn Haden                     1.27.4