Nelson riders conquer soggy downhill course

Nelson riders posted a number of top-10 performances in the second round of the Nature Valley NZ MTB Downhill Cup in a damp and soggy Dunedin at the weekend.

Tough conditions were the norm for the two days of practice and competition for the 124 competitors on Signal Hill on Friday and Saturday, with a broad range of weather and course variables add to the racing mix.

The best result for the Nelson contingent once again went to masters one rider Derek Winwood, who qualified second behind fellow Team MorewoodSubliminal Motion rider Jamie Nicoll, to secure his second win in two outings.

Nicoll was runner-up, also his second podium position of the competition. Boyd Grinstead was fourth and Kevin English seventh.

The Elite Men’s ranks were boosted this week with the addition of World Cup top 10 regular Justin Leov (Dunedin) and former world four cross champion Jared Graves (Australia), joining an already star-studded field.

The 2007 junior world championship bronze medallist, Mat Scoles (Alexandra), was the quickest seed in the earlier seeding run, and was last starter, with surprise package and second seed Bryn Dickerson, of Wellington, away one before him.

But the field had to be content with playing bridesmaid to Brook Macdonald (Napier), the 2009 junior world champion, who finished with a solid – and unbeatable – time from ninth seed.

Scoles settled for second, with Nelsonian Kieran Bennett making a return to top three.

Fellow Nelson Zerode rider Reuben Olorenshaw was sixth, after posting the third best seeding run.

Nelson’s Veronique Sandler was fourth in elite women, and her younger brother Leo was second in under-19 men, followed by Takaka’s Reece Potter in third.

Nelson’s Jake Boylett was sixth in senior men, as was DJ Holmes in the under-17 men.

The weather lifted in time for the first round of the crosscountry competition, also held on Signal Hill, on Sunday.

The best finish by a Nelson rider was Derek Milne, who was second in masters three.

Scott Barr was fourth in under17 men, and Caitlin Holmes fourth in under-19 women.

Carl Jones, of Rotorua, won the elite men’s race, and Karen Hanlen (Whakatane) was best of the women.