The final time Eagle Mountain Bike Park will hold the Nationals Championships (in the near future at least) and it didn’t disappoint. Everyone was relieved to wake up on Sunday and find the temperature wasA�a much more bearable. Looking at the forecast and a wet final was a distinct possibility.
Before finals kicked off the riders had their final practice session, this was a good time for riders to confirm their lines and check how the track was holding up after Group B racing.
A few notes from practice; Sam Hill was taking the session very seriously, rolling the whole track and looking everywhere to see how the track had held up and where he might be able to make up time. Chris Kovarik punctured on his last practice run, Jill Kintner looked apprehensive on the track and Jared Graves reminded everyone on just how well he could pedal, absolutely charging across the ridge near the top of the track, no one elseA�got close to his speed there.
With clouds lingering it was the Junior riders on the course first, in Under 19 Men the competition was tight. Watching these come down the hill was a big reassurance for the future of Australian downhill, so many different styles of rider but so many fast riders regardless.
Once Under 19 Men’s racingA�was underway it was Dave McMillan who after crashing in seeding came down the hill early and took over the hot seat. Dave would eventually finish seventh with six and a half seconds separating second through to eleventh, talk about tight! One position in front of Dave wasA�the winner of roundA�one of the National Series,A�Joey Vejvoda.
Tom Crimmins came through and took the hot seat, Tom has hadA�an excellent season so far, this is his first year inA�Under 19 and you have to wonder what next season will hold for him. With the topA�two riders left to come it was clear Tom would claiming at least third place.
Two riders were leftA�to race,A�Connor Fearon was the first of the team mates who would come down first, he said he was “happy” about not being the last rider down the hill. Looking at Connor’s rear tyre after his last practice run, the rocky nature of Eagle Mountain Bike Park could clearly be seen by all the knobs that had beenA�ripped of the tyre. It didn’t phaseA�Connor too much as he said the side knobs still gave him plenty of traction. Connor came down and took over the hot seat with aA�2.02.15. Only team mate Dean Lucas was left at the top of the hill, by this stage the weather had changed and the threat of rain felt real. Dean came down on a dry run and finished second 0.85 seconds behind Connor. This was Connor’s fourth Australian Championship title in a row, quite an achievement!
With the Junior category finished it was time for Elite, first down the hill were the Elie Female racers. This category was plagued with flats, Jill Kintner who seeded second and was expected to push Tracey Hannah, was one of the riders that suffered this fate. In the end Tracey did what she needed to do by staying upright and puncture free to become Australian Champion in her first year of returning to racing.
It was during Elite Men when the rain started to fall but to the amount that came down would have done little to effect any riders’ race runs. It meant everyone had a level playing field. It was local rider Will ‘The Razorblade’ Rischbieth who took the hot seat early with a 2.07.70. Will will be staying in Australia for the upcoming World Cup season, his niggling back injury means he can’t train as well as he would like and can’t justify not being able to give itA�100%. Will finished inside the top ten in ninth.A�One position ahead of WillA�was Rhys Atkinson, by Rhys’ standard his week was disappointing, with crashes and a subsequent injury slowing him down.
The next four positions were filled by some of theA�most successfulA�Elite Australian racers. Respectively these were Delfs, Graves, Atkinson and Kovarik coming homeA�in fourth. Young gun Rhys Willemse, whoA�is riding a Lapierre for the Australian domestic season, came home in third. A great result for Rhys who “hasn’t been doing much downhilling but plenty of training on the moto and road bike”.
For Elite Men first and second, just like in Under 19 Men, was a showdown between team mates. All season Troy Brosnan and Sam Hill have been battling it out. Sam was first down the hill and posted a 2.01.19 despite having a mechanical on the last straight, you could clearly hear his gears jamming as he tried to pedal. Thoughts in the crowd were that to win you would have to do a sub two minute time, this theory was proven correct when Troy came down the hill in a 1.59.05. AA�happy Troy was happy to win “in front ofA�friends and family” and is on his way toA�having a perfect maiden Elite Men’s series.
Elite Men:
1. Troy Brosnan 1.59.05
2. Sam Hill 2.01.19 + 2.14
3. Rhys Willemse 2.01.92 + 2.87
4. Chris Kovarik 2.03.59 + 4.54
5. Bryn Atkinson 2.04.01 + 4.96
Elite Women:
1. Tracey Hannah 2.15.07
2. Jill Kintner 2.23.59 + 8.52
3. Shelly Flood 2.31.77 + 16.70
4. Alyssa Lyons 2.36.01 + 20.94
5. Lisa Mathison 2.42.80 + 27.73
Under 19 Men:
1. Connor Fearon 2.02.15
2. Dean Lucas 2.03.00 + 0.85
3. Tom Crimmins 2.04.93 + 2.78
4. Peter Knott 2.05.19 + 3.04
5. Brent Smith 2.06.06 + 3.91
With the Eagle National Champs complete it only leaves the last race of the National Series to go. Awaba here we come!
When is the next comp day at Eagle MTB park South Australia? date sent 17/02/2013
Hi Andrew, we are not sure, Eagle isn’t holding the National Champs this year, the best contact would be Inside Line downhill club as they run the SA state series, thanks.