North Island Downhill Cup #2 - NE

Rotorua, New Zealand, January 16-17, 2009

2008 Results Results

Cathro upsets New Zealand favorite Blenkinsop

Ragot tops women's podium again

The crowd watched in anticipation as Yeti/Fox rider Sam Blenkinsop raced down the fast-paced track in the Whakarewarewa Forest at round two of the New Zealand North Island Downhill Cup

It was Blenkinsop's first race since winning the final round of the 2008 UCI World Cup round in Austria in September last year. The New Zealander placed second in his seeding run and was hoping to knock off some time in his race run which he did, but, Ben Cathro of Scotland took the win in the elite men's category. Another Scottish rider, Joe Barnes, who is travelling around New Zealand for the NZ MTB Cups, earned third place.

Frenchwoman Emmeline Ragot kept her place at the top of the podium in the elite women's category with Harriet Harper placing second and Rita Langley third. The senior women's category is one to watch with a a growing field of women rising to the challenge of downhill racing. The sport, traditionally male-dominated is becoming increasingly popular with the ladies with a noteworthy 12 women entering this round's open competition. Madeline Taylor won the senior women's race, an impressive feat at age 15. She has been riding mountain bikes for just one year, having quickly become addicted to the sport.

The Rotorua course included several jumps that riders had to clear. Choosing to jump the gaps of up to 14 metres proved risky, but made the race to the finish line faster.

"It's awesome to be riding with so many other girls. It makes us ride faster and more competitive. We all get along really well, but when it comes to the race, it's all on," said Taylor.

Race Organiser Dave Hamilton had a lot on his plate, with a huge race to run as well as both his sons entered and also racing himself. Hamilton placed first in the Masters 2 Men (over 40) whilst sons Louis won the Under 17 men and Connor placed fifth in the Under 15 men.

"It was amazing to see the top guys letting loose on the fast-paced summer course, with it being described as a wild roller coaster ride from top to bottom," said Hamilton.

This was the second race in the series of three, with the final round being held in Levin. The action then moves to the South Island for three rounds before the New Zealand National Mountain Bike Championships in Nelson between February 26 and March 1.

Results

Elite men

1 Ben Cathro (GBr)          3.04.27
2 Sam Blenkinsop (NZl)      0.03.17
3 Joe Barnes (GBr)          0.04.20
4 Gary Forrest (GBr)        0.05.92
5 Brook MacDonald (NZl)     0.07.02
6 James Dodds (NZl)         0.08.32
7 Hayden Lee (NZl)          0.08.90
8 Edward Masters (NZl)      0.09.05
9 Matt Scoles (NZl)         0.09.12
10 Wyn Masters (NZl)        0.11.49
11 Aari Barrett (NZl)       0.11.78
12 Hayden McGregor (NZl)    0.12.49
13 Sam Reed (NZl)           0.14.96
14 Craig Pattle (NZl)       0.15.66
15 Scott Bedford (NZl)      0.15.67
16 Daniel Meilink (NZl)     0.16.65
17 Mads Weidemann (Den)     0.17.42
18 Adam King (NZl)          0.18.03
19 Michael Davis (NZl)      0.18.37
20 Daniel Sims (NZl)        2.27.17
DNF Glenn Haden (NZl)              
DNS Tom Rodgers (GBr)              
DNS Matthew Walker (NZl)           
 
Elite women

1 Emmeline Ragot (Fra)      3.31.75
2 Harriet Harper (NZl)      0.15.79
3 Rita Langley (NZl)        0.48.95
DNS Gabrielle Molloy (NZl)         
DNS Sheryl MacLeod (NZl)           
 
Under 19 men

1 George Brannigan          3.16.80
2 Richard Leacock           0.04.81
3 Daniel Heads              0.05.39
4 Campbell Robertson        0.07.85
5 Jake Davis                0.07.88
6 Jonathon Andrew           0.09.69
7 Tom Matthews              0.09.86
8 Dominic Stulen            0.10.70
9 Liam Moynihan             0.11.33
10 Nick Mead                0.12.24
11 Bryn Dickerson           0.12.74
12 Ethan Helliwell          0.13.57
13 Freddie King             0.15.52
14 Jamie Dylan Lyall        0.17.48
15 Ben Tyas                 0.17.86
16 Chris Scott              0.17.99
17 Brandon Lumsden          0.22.88
18 Nick McConachie          0.22.94
19 Daniel Kamp              0.24.52
20 Tom Beaton               0.24.92
21 Ryan Lewis               0.25.02
22 Ben Chilton              0.25.88
23 Alex Tressler            0.26.47
24 Lucas Jackson            0.27.32
25 Jamie Eagle              0.32.41
26 James Morpeth            0.32.82
27 Michael Dodds            0.32.83
28 Rhys Dunn                0.38.02
29 Wayne Butler             0.39.38
30 Jono Francis             0.43.08
31 Tyler Perrin             0.53.21
32 Scott Taylor             0.58.72
33 Dayne Scott              1.08.52
34 Kyle Stannard            1.15.25
35 Nick Taylor              1.17.36
36 Tom Garcia               1.39.08
37 Paul Hammer              1.50.37
DNF Tourley Munro                  
DNS Erik Scheirlinck               
DNS Sam Baker                      
DNS Adin Johnson                   
DNS James Thomas                   
DNS Olly Le Maitre                 
DNS Jared Quinn                    
DNS Vaughan Woolhouse              
DNS Rupert Chapman                 
DNS Edmund Hall                    
 
Under 17 men

1 Louis Hamilton            3.19.44
2 Daniel Franks             0.01.78
3 Jay Barrett               0.05.69
4 Adam Lynskey              0.10.62
5 Simon Barratt             0.12.06
6 Jake Robinson             0.12.68
7 Brandon Ransfield         0.13.89
8 Daniel Matthews           0.17.40
9 Corey Penney              0.19.64
10 Riley Jones              0.21.08
11 Tyler Kirk               0.22.45
12 Tom Rose                 0.23.78
13 Brad Sheety              0.24.19
14 Harrison Redshaw         0.24.32
15 Kirk Fisher              0.27.30
16 Thomas Jenkins           0.30.85
17 Jarrod Anderson          0.30.88
18 Daniel Jolly             0.32.61
19 Jeremy Compton           0.32.68
20 Russell Grant-How        0.34.14
21 Luke Weston              0.34.90
22 Luke Wheeler             0.35.60
23 Campbell Mercer          0.37.41
24 Daniel Kuchler           0.39.19
25 Jordan Bunyan-           0.39.41
26 Mitch Thomas             0.44.86
27 Austin Chambers          0.46.45
28 Ryan Hunt                0.51.86
29 Tyler Caplan             0.59.77
30 Kotahi Paranihi          1.02.64
31 Jason Todd               1.08.42
32 Brandon Jackson          1.30.59
33 Patrick Stuart           2.02.42
34 Brendan Falvey           2.33.15
35 Kurt McDonald            4.41.45
DNS Nathan Sheppard                
DNS Richard Penney                 
DNS Mitchell Townsend              
DNS Alex Woodmass                  
DNS Rogan Young                    
 
Senior men

1 Kurt Lancaster            3.22.15
2 Scott McGregor            0.02.13
3 James McConachie          0.02.37
4 Jeff Hunter               0.03.55
5 Steven Pattle             0.03.64
6 Oliver Knight             0.04.77
7 Evan Thomas               0.05.41
8 Antony Snodgrass          0.05.61
9 Thomas Sinclair           0.09.29
10 Mathew McGovern          0.09.55
11 Tom Adams                0.13.10
12 Shanan Whitlock          0.14.87
13 Andrew Sherratt          0.16.69
14 Jayden Harris            0.19.05
15 Jarrod Bang              0.19.54
16 Kevin Warner             0.21.03
17 Chris Vanderkolk         0.21.96
18 Anthony Gunter           0.23.29
19 Benjamin Kemp            0.27.31
20 Tim Warner               0.28.17
21 David Sibley             0.32.03
22 Jonny Lovell             0.43.97
23 Daniel Sargent           0.51.61
24 Matthew Stulen           0.58.18
25 Leon Duggan              5.51.07
DNS Jason Connor                   
DNS Ben Rodgers                    
 
Master 1 men

1 Mike Metz                 3.27.28
2 Rob Smail                 0.06.65
3 Cameron Bisset            0.15.12
4 Matthew Vircavs           0.24.53
5 Dave English              0.29.62
6 Kevin English             0.32.74
7 Simon Chittick            0.33.14
8 Mike Green                0.40.60
DNS Shaun Hodges                   
DNS Brian Tindall                  
DNS Chris Martin                   
 
Master 2 men

1 Dave Hamilton             3.37.57
2 Graeme Hunt               0.34.76
3 Michael Stylianou         0.51.30
4 Dave Rose                 0.56.13
 
Hardtail men

1 Asher Ellery              4.13.37
2 Tim Adams                 0.08.74
3 Ricky Clift               0.11.88
4 Conor Benson              0.16.69
5 Todd Smith                0.32.14
6 Regan Bang                0.38.71
7 Daniel La ulu             0.45.64
 
Open women

1 Madeline Taylor           4.06.53
2 Sophie Tyas               0.09.86
3 Sophiemarie Bethell       0.10.81
4 Alice Kevern              0.15.10
5 Annika Smail              0.19.50
6 Veronique Sandler         0.22.98
7 Sarah Atkin               0.29.78
8 Kaytee Campbell           0.49.52
9 Noemi Derron              0.56.25
10 Baylee Jackson           1.03.72
11 Chelsea Munro            2.37.29
DNS Jo Price                       
 
Under 15 men

1 Kurt Summerfield          3.32.02
2 Jacques Vosloo            0.08.38
3 Leo Sandler               0.11.76
4 Lawrence Cawte            0.14.03
5 Connor Hamilton           0.22.84
6 Cam Barratt               0.40.98
7 Morgan Taylor             0.58.41
8 Jamie Rosier              0.58.76
9 Aled Dunn                 1.28.21
10 Thomas MacDonald         1.29.87
11 Zach Rowe                1.47.99
12 Calum Sprosen            1.49.30
13 Jacob Purser             2.03.06
DNS Sam Eagle                      
 
Sweeper

1 Keegan                    3.44.99
2 Ihakra                    0.57.65
 
Fastest men's runs

1 Ben Cathro                3.04.27
2 Sam Blenkinsop            0.03.17
3 Joe Barnes                0.04.20
4 Gary Forrest              0.05.92
5 Brook MacDonald           0.07.02
6 James Dodds               0.08.32
7 Glenn Haden               0.08.56
8 Hayden Lee                0.08.90
 
Fastest women's runs

1 Emmeline Ragot            3.31.65
2 Harriet Harper            0.15.89
3 Madeline Taylor           0.34.88