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Australian 24 Hour Solo National Championships - CN
Mt. Majura, Canberra, Australia, April 11-12, 2009
2008 Results Results Past winners
Exciting 24-hour championship races come down to the wire
By Dan McKay in Canberra
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With current 24 hours of Adrenaline World Championships runner-up Jason English (BMC) and Katrin Van Der Spiegel (Clarence St Cyclery) present to race a strong field, the 24-hour Australian national solo championships were set for some fireworks.
2008 Scott 24-hour winner Jess Douglas (Giant & TCF) and 2008 Australian national championship's third placed Clair Graydon (Mal Adjusted) were among the women to watch. In the men's field, English was the man with the biggest target on his back as the current Australian National Champion and winner of the Scott 24-hour solo (2008). The runner up at last year's Australian championships John Claxton (Giant & Skins), third place finisher Daniel Mackay (Giant) and forth place finisher Mark Fenner (Specialized) also returned to contest this year's event.
A fast and flowing 9.5km track linked up the best of the Majura pines in Canberra. With a rocky and root strewn track, the competitors were collectively holding their breath that the forecast rain held off and track conditions stayed reasonable; however, mother nature did not cooperate.
The race kicked off with the ranked riders starting on the front of the grid. Quickly the previous years' podium-getters English, Claxton, Fenner and Mackay open a small gap over the rest of the field. However, the group quickly fractured with English and Claxton taking the lead followed by a chase group of adventure racer Andrew Fellows and Fenner. Behind the leaders Mackay and young gun Mark Tupalski maintained eye contact with the hard charging Fenner and Fellows.
In the womens' race start, Jess Douglas (Giant & TCF) jumped perennial favourite Katrin Van Der Spiegel and rode a hot pace to build a small lead. After nearly three hours, this lead had opened up to seesawing one minute with Canberra local Clair Graydon sitting a further two and half minutes back in third place.
The men's race was beginning to look like the prize fight of the previous year with English and Claxton trading blows and the rest of the field desperately trying to hold on. By hour three, English had a three-and-a-half minute gap on Claxton with Fenner, and Fellows was trailing a comfortable 12 minutes further back. Just behind the Fellows, Mackay was maintaining a steady pace and binding time for the long charge to the finish.
As darkness fell, the forecasted showers started, first as scattered droplets then as a steady sheet of cold rain. Lightning was flashing on the horizon around the event centre and the hard-packed trail turned slick and the exposed roots became treacherous. Jess Douglas struggled through the rain losing first place to experienced Van Der Spiegel. In the men's race, English built a solid 10-minute lead over Claxton. Behind, Fellows had gapped Fenner, who was joined by Mackay a further five minutes behind.
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As the rain continued to fall, the competitors started to suffer from the cold and the nervous track conditions. First Fenner, and then a lap later Claxton, were beaten down by the conditions and withdrew from the race. Douglas continued to lose time to her more experienced rival with Van Der Spiegel gaining a 12-minute lead. English continued racing steadily lap after lap, but Fellows was charging hard and had cut the deficit to seven minutes. Third place Mackay was a further 13 minutes behind.
As the weary, dark hours crept on, the rain eased to occasional splatters and track conditions started to improve. The charging Fellows faded in the early morning while behind him, MacKay rode strongly through the night to bridge the nine-minute gap to Fellows and to cut the 15-minute gap to English to trail the race leader by six minutes. Douglas had also rallied and closed the gap to Van Der Spiegel to a nail-biting three minutes and forty five seconds.
With five hours to go and the sun well over the horizon, the race leaders were battling to hold on. Mackay had the gap to English down to under three and a half minutes but both men were digging into their last reserves to maintain the pace. In the women's race, Douglas had closed the gap a further fifteen seconds and was sitting three and half minutes behind Van Der Spiegel, although the pressure was clearly starting to show on the pained face of the leader.
In the closing hours of the race, a magnificent surge by Douglas gapped the fading Van Der Spiegel and took Douglas to a win. In the men's race, the charging Mackay started to fall of his pace, and English gained back precious time. In the dying minutes of the race, eyes were on Mackay to see if he could squeeze in a final lap and force English out for one more. As the twenty four hours ticked over, the question of whether one or both riders would survive another lap was left unanswered as neither rider went out again. English took a well-deserved win over McKay with a six-minute gap.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Russell Baker
- A smiling Jess Douglas before the race start; 24 hours later, she had even more reason to smile.
- A future Women's Single Speed Chamption? Proudly watched by Brad Mertens (sixth in Single Speed).
- The 2008 World number three Mark Fenner (left) and number two Jason English (centre) chat before the race while Jennii English wears that "shouldn't they be resting" expression
- Before the start, Vanina Vergoz enjoys her last moments of relative obscurity on the Australian 24 hour race scene. Next day, everyone knew who she was.
- John Claxton's steeds ready for the race.
- The start. John Claxton leads Jason English, Mark Fenner and Dan Mackay through the arch.
- Jack Spahr was third in the Male 50-59 category, and sported a new-found support crew.
- Open Women winner Jess Douglas looking fresh on Saturday afternoon.
- Single Speed rider Steve Partridge in the singletrack as the fairy lights come on.
- Open Men winner and 2008 World number two Jason English.
- Mark Fenner didn't have a great time and withdrew after seven hours.
- In the rain on Saturday night the riders split at the feed zone to get assistance, or continue straight through.
- On Saturday night it rained and the riders lights and fairy lights made for a fun time on the singletrack and exposed tree roots.
- Jac Connell in amongst the fairy lights on Saturday evening.
- The lonely vigil of a solo rider support crew.
- Open Women winner Jess Douglas gets some assistance in the feed zone from Husband Norm.
- Chris Cady was third in Male U18 6+6 and heads out on Sunday morning.
- Frank Ryan passes the feed zone on Sunday morning.
- Open Men winner Jason English does a flying feed zone visit on Sunday morning, supported by team mate and 2008 World Age Group winner Troy Bailey.
- One of the riders achieved his target of eating 30 bananas during the race.
- Sunrise on Sunday and the strain shows on 2008 World number two and 2009 Australian number two Katrin van der Spiegel.
- Second in the Male 45-49 category and 15th overall, John Evans came off second best in a battle with a pine tree.
- Vanina Vergoz passes Cameron Dalton on Sunday morning, on her way to third overall and winner of the Women's 30-34 age group.
- The effervescent Jac Connell was second in Women 30-34 category and seventh overall and had troubles early on in the race but came back strongly.
- Bob Mathieson was third in the Male 18-24 category and 12th overall.
- Claire Graydon was third in 2008 but had to be content with sixth this year.
- Open Men winner Jason English.
- Dan Mackay charged hard all through the night, closing to within 2:30 of race leader Jason English, but had to be content with second in the closest Australian 24 hour race finish.
- Open Women winner Jess Douglas with about three hours to go.
- Open Men third place Andrew Fellows on Sunday morning.
- True Swain is a new young rider on the Australian 24 hour scene and placed fourth overall, winning the Male 18-24 category.
- Single Speed rider Brad Mertens.
- Katrin van der Spiegel ran out of legs in the last few hours.
- The strain shows on Open Women winner Jess Douglas with about two hours to go, but she had the title in the bag after Katrin van der Spiegel stopped.
- Neil Dall won the Male 50-59 category.
- Australian Champion Jason English in between James Eldridge (54) and Chris Davies (28).
- Jason McAvoy was fifth overall and won the Male 35-39 category.
- Dan Mackay nearing the end on Sunday morning. He closed up on Jason English overnight, but missed forcing the race into an extra lap by 2:24.
- Single Speed riders Andy Vercoe (91) and Tim Smith (32).
- Open Women winner Jess Douglas gets in a word for her sponsors.
- Open Men's podium (l-r): Dan Mackay, Jason English, Andrew Fellows, True Swain (4th), Jason McAvoy (5th)
- Overall Men's winner Jason English thanks the crowd.
Results
Men open
Laps Time
1 Jason English 43 24:00:09
2 Dan Mackay 43 24:02:24
3 Andrew Fellows (AYUP) 41 24:00:15
4 True Swain 41 24:21:14
5 Jason McAvoy 40 24:01:10
6 Ashley Hayat 39 24:00:18
7 Brett Bellchambers SS 39 24:01:03
8 Sean Bekkers (BOZZA) 38 24:14:38
9 Mark Tupalski (TLC CYCLES) 37 24:08:09
10 Garry James (coffee guru racing) 37 24:23:49
11 Michael Norman (SICK MICK) 36 24:01:58
12 Bob Mathieson 36 24:02:00
13 Tim Smith SS 36 24:19:55
14 Ed McDonald SS 36 24:30:41
15 John Evans (JetBlack Products) 35 24:00:39
16 Richard Peil (Coffee Guru Racing) 34 24:02:13
17 Chris Davies (Critty) 34 24:09:23
18 Sean Martin 33 24:00:05
19 Clayton Locke 33 24:01:22
20 Paul Cubbin 33 24:11:58
21 Michael Crummy (FRS - Bikes at the Basin) 31 24:16:26
22 Chris Smith 30 24:00:33
23 Benjamin Hallowell 30 24:00:38
24 Steve Partridge SS 30 24:00:50
25 Neil Dall (NPD) 30 24:01:09
26 Mick Hernan 29 24:00:30
27 Chris Hellman 29 24:00:31
28 Gary Harwood 29 24:00:58
29 James Eldridge 29 24:25:26
30 Glen Inches 28 24:01:12
31 Sam Warmington SS (Kiwi Sam) 28 24:30:43
32 Peter Baird 27 24:00:59
33 Brad Mertens SS (GULAG SS) 27 24:02:50
34 Dave McGregor 27 24:29:54
35 Robbie Verity 26 24:00:42
36 Damian Gillard (Damo) 26 24:21:26
37 Mark Feeney (Hot Designs Racing) 25 24:00:25
38 Damien Wood SS 25 24:00:48
39 Cameron Dalton (Suck it up Princess) 25 24:23:31
40 Jason Dreggs (The Good Doctor) 24 24:02:49
41 Andrew Harnisch 23 24:00:33
42 Luke Haworth-Booth 23 24:00:46
43 Darren Smith 23 24:08:11
44 Jamie Bailey 22 24:07:15
45 Nicholas Wilson 22 24:09:15
46 Taylor Charlton 22 24:28:17
47 Frank Ryan 22 24:32:50
48 Andy Vercoe (Andy V) 20 24:00:52
49 Chris Cady 19 24:15:14
50 Sam Bryant 19 24:18:07
51 Jamie Colwill 18 24:08:32
52 Chris Bren (Chris Bren) 17 24:00:46
53 Scott Abercrombie (Magnet Man Racing) 16 24:02:47
54 Lucas Lodi 16 24:12:56
55 Jack Spahr 11 24:00:33
56 Andrew Beddie 11 24:10:14
57 Clayton Mumford 8 24:01:05
DNF Tristan Bennett SS (hardmanriding.com)
DNF Joe Szpytko (smokey joe and the monster squirrals)
DNF Justin Matthews SS
DNF Matt Koerber (BlackHeart/Salomon Matt)
DNF Kevin Wells (Crankin)
DNF Harley Johnstone
DNF John Claxton
DNF Mark Fenner (Fenz)
DNF Tim Ferres
DNF Jeff Rooney (jeff.the.looney)
DNF Peter Cady
DNF Lawrence Plug
DNF Gavin Dunk
DNF Troy Bailey
DNF Grantley Butterfield
DNF Brendan Den SS (Team McGee)
Women open
1 Jessica Douglas 37 24:00:10
2 Katrin Van Der Spiegel 35 24:01:15
3 Vanina Vergoz 34 24:39:43
4 Justine Leahy 33 24:26:05
5 Tania Churchill 32 24:16:38
6 Claire Graydon 30 24:22:01
7 Jac Connell 29 24:01:17
8 Melinda Behrens 26 24:01:01
9 Belinda Porter 23 24:00:32
10 Bec Parkes 20 24:01:20
11 Kath Bicknell (Spicy Biscuit) 20 24:13:15
12 Karen Foat (onya bike belconnen and civic) 20 24:36:48
13 Danielle Winslow 18 24:15:35
14 Philippa Rostan (Super Flip) 14 24:01:07
Men 18-24
1 True Swain 41
2 Mark Tupalski (TLC CYCLES) 37
3 Bob Mathieson 36
4 Ed McDonald SS 36
5 Chris Smith 30
DNF Joe Szpytko (smokey joe and the monster squirrals) 22
Men 25-29
1 Jason English 43
2 Andrew Fellows (AYUP) 41
3 Sean Bekkers (BOZZA) 38
4 Tim Smith SS 36
5 Sean Martin 33
6 Michael Crummy (FRS - Bikes at the Basin) 31
7 Benjamin Hallowell 30
8 Chris Hellman 29
9 Robbie Verity 26
10 Mark Feeney (Hot Designs Racing) 25
11 Cameron Dalton (Suck it up Princess) 25
12 Andrew Harnisch 23
DNF Tristan Bennett SS (hardmanriding.com) 22
DNF Gavin Dunk 10
Men 30-34
1 Dan Mackay 43
2 Ashley Hayat 39
3 Paul Cubbin 33
4 Mick Hernan 29
5 Sam Warmington SS (Kiwi Sam) 28
6 Brad Mertens SS (GULAG SS) 27
7 Andy Vercoe (Andy V) 20
8 Sam Bryant 19
DNF Justin Matthews SS 21
DNF Kevin Wells (Crankin) 17
DNF Harley Johnstone 17
DNF John Claxton 15
DNF Tim Ferres 14
Men 35-39
1 Jason McAvoy 40
2 Brett Bellchambers SS 39
3 Chris Davies (Critty) 34
4 Steve Partridge SS 30
5 Glen Inches 28
6 Damian Gillard (Damo) 26
7 Jason Dreggs (The Good Doctor) 24
8 Luke Haworth-Booth 23
9 Scott Abercrombie (Magnet Man Racing) 16
10 Andrew Beddie 11
DNF Brendan Den SS (Team McGee) 1
DNF Matt Koerber (BlackHeart/Salomon Matt) 20
DNF Mark Fenner (Fenz) 14
Men 40-44
1 Michael Norman (SICK MICK) 36
2 Richard Peil (Coffee Guru Racing) 34
3 Clayton Locke 33
4 Gary Harwood 29
5 Peter Baird 27
6 Damien Wood SS 25
DNF Jeff Rooney (jeff.the.looney) 11
DNF Lawrence Plug 10
Men 45-49
1 Garry James (coffee guru racing) 37
2 John Evans (JetBlack Products) 35
3 James Eldridge 29
Men 50-59
1 Neil Dall (NPD) 30
2 Dave McGregor 27
3 Jack Spahr 11
Under 18 men 6+6
1 Nicholas Wilson 22
2 Taylor Charlton 22
3 Chris Cady 19
Open men 6+6
1 Darren Smith 23
2 Jamie Bailey 22
3 Frank Ryan 22
4 Jamie Colwill 18
5 Chris Bren (Chris Bren) 17
6 Lucas Lodi 16
7 Clayton Mumford 8
DNF Peter Cady 10
DNF Troy Bailey 8
DNF Grantley Butterfield 6
Women 25-29
1 Tania Churchill 32
2 Claire Graydon 30
3 Philippa Rostan (Super Flip) 14
Women 30-34
1 Vanina Vergoz 34
2 Jac Connell 29
3 Belinda Porter 23
4 Bec Parkes 20
Women 35-39
1 Jessica Douglas 37
2 Katrin Van Der Spiegel 35
3 Justine Leahy 33
4 Melinda Behrens 26
Open women 6+6
1 Kath Bicknell (Spicy Biscuit) 20
2 Karen Foat (onya bike belconnen and civic) 20
3 Danielle Winslow 18
Past winners
Men Women 2008 Jason English Katrin Van Der Spiegel 2007 Andrew Bell Katrin Van Der Spiegel 2006 James Williamson Kim McCormack 2005 Craig Gordon Katrin Van Der Spiegel 2004 Josh Street Tory Thomas
