Local riders top of the mountain
Mountain bikers win big in largest enduro series in Australasia
Two local mountain bike riders won gold in Rotorua at the weeken in the largest enduro series in Australasia.
Rotorua’s Connor Hamilton and Kate Hastings came first in the final race of the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro season. Connor Hamilton’s brother, Louis Hamilton, and Wellington’s Iley Nunns won silver.
Meanwhile, Tauranga’s Tyrone Laurent-stokes and Rotorua’s Alexandra Clark won bronze.
More than 350 riders descended from across the country on to Te Pū take O Tawa - also known as the Tawa Forest Hub - in Rotorua to take on the trails.
The race concluded the threeevent season held in Rotorua.
The mission of the non-profit event - set by owners Rotorua Mountain Bike Club - is to foster the skills of riders of all levels and from across New Zealand.
The event awards the Mark Dunlop Scholarship and the Cole Walker Award - celebrating achievements and supporting riders’ ambitions.
This year’s scholarship was awarded to Rotorua teenager Joe Millington. The 18-year-old recently won his age groups at the 3Peaks and Transnz Enduro events.
“It’s going to help so much with my overseas travel,” said Millington, who had been unsure if he could make the whole overseas race season due to the expense.
“With this scholarship, I’ll for sure be able to.
“There aren’t heaps of races, but they’re spread out so you have to stay there for a long time.”
This year’s Cole Walker Award went to Auckland’s Felix Lloyd and New Plymouth’s Addison Rutherford.
Race director Tim Farmer said the race was about having fun within a competitive atmosphere.
The Giant 2W Gravity will return for its 13th season, with races on October 19 and November 21, 2024 and February 1, 2025.