Bright beginning to downhills for champ Hannah

CAIRNS downhill mountain bike darling Tracey Hannah is back behind the handlebars and performing strongly.

The 29-year-old won her 10th national title at the 2018 MTBA Downhill National Championships in Bright, Victoria on Sunday, finishing 16 seconds ahead of nearest rival Tegan Molloy.

The world No.2 told the MTBA website: “It’s super cool, it’s always awesome rac- ing in Australia, just being able to take that flag back overseas and race with the top riders in the world is pretty special to me – so yeah, I’m stoked.”

Mick Hannah finished fourth behind winner Troy Brosnan.

The Hannahs will spend much of March away from Cairns as they contest the first Crankworx event of the season in Rotorua. The World Cup season starts in April.

■ FORMER FNQ Heat midfielder Kieran Sanders is in ominous form at his new NPL Queensland club Brisbane Olympic.

The maestro of the Far North club’s run to the grand final in 2016 scored goals either side of half time in Olympic’s 5-0 win over South West Queensland Thunder on Sunday.

Sanders has been hard to handle in every game since joining from Northern NSW NPL club Edgeworth Eagles.

It won’t be long before he faces some of his former teammates with a looming match-up against Cairns FC on March 18.

■ Cairns Taipans import Scoochie Smith has signed with the Canton Charge in the NBA’s G League.

The Ohio-based club is the Cleveland Cavaliers’ affiliate and features former Sydney Kings import, Marcus Thornton.

The Charge waived guard Maksym Pustozvonov to make room for Smith, who did not attend the Taipans awards night last week.