Region’s riders lap it up at three-hour cross country
‘I’ve never ridden Seeonee Park as good as it was on Saturday.’
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MOUNTAIN BIKING: Weekend rain made for perfect race conditions at the Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club’s three-hour cross country.
Gladstone’s Sean Hall powered to victory in the solo men while Emerald’s Emma Burgess reigned in the solo women as 68 riders hit the trails for the first race of the year at Seeonee Park.
Club president Dan Witten said all the riders were in good spirits and the rain enhanced the event.
“Despite a lot of anxiety over the weather and the rain – and there was a substantial amount out there – it was excellent,” he said.
“Seeonee is a very dry track normally so the rain firmed it up and made it perfect for racing.
“Everybody probably thought that the tracks were going to be heavy, slow and muddy and instead we got fast, grippy and really fun.
“I’ve never ridden Seeonee Park as good as it was on Saturday.”
Hall completed eight laps of the 6.3km course to win a keenly contested solo male category by almost 11 seconds.
Grant Burkhardt and Cameron Mellifont waged an epic battle for the minor placings.
They too completed eight laps, with Burkhardt edging ahead on the last lap to take second, four seconds ahead of Mellifont in third.
Burgess completed seven laps to score a comfortable win in the solo female.
Silvia Smith (six laps) was second and Donna Oliver (five laps) third.
Witten said it was a good way to kickstart what will be another busy year on the trails.
The Rockhampton club will again run combined cross country and enduro series with Gladstone, and will host a round of the Queensland Enduro Series on April 19.
The next race will be the opening round of the combined cross country series in Gladstone on Sunday, March 15.
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