New Zealand Open - NE

Lava Flow Track, Christchurch, New Zealand, March 9, 2008

2007 Results Results

Leov and Macleod win New Zealand Open

Justin Leov and Sheryl Macleod won the New Zealand Open downhill race on a demanding track made up of sections of rocky lava flow and some open and fast corners in dry slippery conditions. The corners forced the riders to find their limits early in training. Wind definitely played a role catching some people off guard on the drop offs, with strength required to pedal through the wind to maintain the speed to the line.

Leov, a Yeti Fox Shox Factory Team, found his speed without issue, and had two excellent runs to get through the seeding and win the final by more than three seconds ahead of his nearest rival on a short sub two and a half minute course. Cameron Cole and Sam Blenkinsop finished second and third within four seconds of Leov, who now has his sights set on the upcoming Oceania Championships this coming weekend in Nelson, New Zealand.

"The turnout was good for the elite [men's] field and it was a bonus to have my team-mate Sam Blenkinsop onboard his freshly built up Yeti 303," said Leov. ". From seeding to race run the conditions stayed the same and a lot of people looked to be struggling in the wind, especially on some of the rocky drops. It was a good day and I was happy to put two clean runs together to take the title."

Sheryl Macleod won the women's race with a time of 3.04.07. Harriott Harper and Amy Laird rounded out the top three.

Results

Open Men

1 Justin Leov             2.22.86
2 Cameron Cole            0.03.20
3 Sam Blenkinsop          0.03.28
4 Kieran Bennett          0.03.72
5 Nathon Sharratt         0.04.11
6 Wyn Masters             0.05.71
7 Matt Scholes            0.06.45
8 James Rennie            0.07.36
9 Dan Simms               0.07.64
10 Scott Spence           0.16.52
11 Dan Aitken             0.17.08
12 Braedan Trompetter     0.22.80
13 Jimmy Pollard          0.25.05
14 Craig Scott            0.25.29
15 James Hampton          0.26.63
16 Joe Allen              0.26.80
17 Bereud Boer            0.27.44
18 Sam Thownesend         0.30.54
19 Graeme Adriaens        0.31.07
20 Lance Agnew            0.31.21
21 Boyd Grinstead         0.31.96
22 Bryce Laffin           0.32.91
23 Will Mathieson         0.34.54
24 Nick Middleton         0.37.86
25 Shaun Kirton           0.41.03
26 Aaron Coster           0.42.68
27 Travis Britton         0.47.11
28 Juan Garrido           0.48.40
29 Tim Mackenzie          0.51.31
30 James Allen            0.59.42
31 William Buick          1.20.93
32 Jono Church            3.42.90
33 Sid Slotgraaf          4.12.02
34 Chris Kilmurray        7.10.57
DNF Joseph Nation                
DNS Mark Johnston                
DNS Jonathan Skinner             
 
Open Women

1 Sheryl Macleod          3.04.07
2 Harriott Harper         0.04.21
3 Amy Laird               0.10.76
4 Olivia Johnston         0.30.16
 
U18 Men

1 Brock McDonald          2.35.24
2 Peter Cooper            0.00.03
3 Cam Johnson             0.12.11
4 Tom Matthews            0.13.05
5 Freddie King            0.15.58
6 Sam Perry               0.19.92
7 Max Carter-Smith        0.30.52
8 Tim Mead                0.50.35
9 Andrew Lawrence         1.33.62
DNF Tom Kennedy                  
DNS Matt Coultas                 
 
U17 Men

1 Jed Rooney              2.38.63
2 Rupert Chapman          0.03.66
3 Nathan Petrie           0.11.61
4 Ricky Hamilton          0.12.52
5 Jimmy Wilson            0.14.47
6 Jackson Carter-Smith    0.26.00
7 Alex Grogen             0.28.06
8 Nick Taylor             0.28.61
9 Josh Hamilton           0.31.85
10 Josh Barnard           0.35.57
11 Daniel Franks          0.37.31
12 Nick Palmer            0.43.23
13 Matt Drummond          0.44.55
14 Kieran Thompson        0.46.72
15 Michael Power          0.57.56
16 Cody Foord             1.03.11
17 Brandon Dunn           1.03.44
18 Andy Boerlage          1.06.38
19 Cory Prutton           1.08.43
20 Chris Foley            1.11.56
21 Patrick Cotter         1.13.49
22 Kurt Batty             1.25.30
23 Matt Prior             1.28.26
24 Doug Winter            1.29.34
25 Tom Beauchamp          1.48.45
26 Tyler Rees             2.00.85
27 Fred Coughlan          2.05.19
28 Andrew Scott           2.17.23
DNS Chris Robinson               
DNS Ben Braid                    
DNS Shane Brook                  
DNS James Friend                 
DNS James Hoggan                 
DNS Lawrence McBreen-Smith       
DNS Gus McKenzie                 
DNS Kipp Nicholson               
DNS Harvey Whelan                
 
Veteran Men

1 Nathan King             3.09.15
2 Brenit Armon            5.07.51
DNS Pete Bielby                  
DNS Stephen Foote                
DNS James McGregor               
DNS David Smith                  
 
U16 Men & Hardtail

1 Louis Donnithorne       2.56.30
2 Harry Ness              0.09.49
3 Warrick Trompetter      0.17.99
4 Harry Chapman           0.29.89
5 Nick Elliott            1.05.41
6 Jayden Fuller           1.15.58
7 Michael Franks          1.20.20
8 Owen Ripley             1.28.12
9 Richard Scandrett       1.43.13
DNS Daniel Franks                
DNS Mat Prior                    
DNS Cory Prutton