Katherine O'Shea on her way to winning the 2011 Australian cross country national championship.(Image credit: Chameleon Photography / www.chameleonphotography.com.au)
Under 23 elite women's podium(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Before and after: Bec Henderson and Zoe Binder came to the nationals in matching jerseys and left in matching jerseys. The two Crowne Plaza teammates won the U23 and U15 titles respectively.(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Katherine O'Shea (Torq Nutrition) had an excellent race.(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Katherine O'Shea (Torq Nutrition) on her way to victory(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Elite women's podium at the Australian cross country national championship(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Elite women's podium(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Amy Austin (Oceania Cycles) races to a win among the Under 19 women(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Under 19 women's podium(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Rebecca Henderson (Crowne Plaza Canberra)(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Rebecca Henderson (Crowne Plaza Canberra)(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Rebecca Henderson (Crowne Plaza Canberra) races at the front of the Under 23 women.(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Rebecca Henderson (Crowne Plaza Canberra) on her way to victory(Image credit: Russ Baker)
Under 23 women's podium(Image credit: Russ Baker)
A jubilant O'Shea wins the Womens Elite XC.(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Rebecca Hendersen prior to the start of the race(Image credit: Dan Peters)
The Elite Womens field cheerful before the start(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Rowena Fry charges up the first hill in the Womens Elite XC(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Eventual Womens U19 winner Amy Austin(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Shelley Flood rides to a solid 2nd in the U23 Womens XC(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Jess Wigan rides to a strong 2nd in the Womens U19 XC(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Katherine O'Shea takles a comanding lead and charges the downhill section in the Womens XC(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Jenni King chases O'Shea going into the third lap(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Heather Logie after a slow start claws back into contention(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Rebecca Hendersen shows her technical skills going to an eventual win in the U23 Womens XC(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Katherine O'Shea climbs the steep hill on the last lap setting herself up for victory(Image credit: Dan Peters)
O'Shea rides solo up the climb on the last lap(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Jenni King rides strong to an eventual 3rd place(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Rebecca Hendersen after her victory in the U23 Womens XC(Image credit: Dan Peters)
Significantly improving on her seventh position in 2010, Victoria's Katherine O'Shea fought back tears as she crossed the finish line to claim her first Australian championship in a time of one hour, 45 minutes and 27 seconds.
In what was an aggressively fought race, O'Shea made a decisive move on the steep pinch at the start of lap three and never looked back as she stretched her lead to over two and half minutes at the conclusion of the six lap event.
The 32-year-old was thrilled with her victory, the first top three result at a national championships in her career.
"It feels amazing, I really had a point to prove today and I can't believe I have final got here," an ecstatic O'Shea said after the race.
"I have been working towards this goal for a fair few years. I haven't had much success and this is actually the first time I have been on the podium so I am stoked."
In what was a much tighter contest for the minor positions, Canberra's Heather Logie (1:48:02) prevailed to take out the silver medal for the second year running, 27 seconds ahead of Victoria's Jenni King (1:48:30).
In what was a shocking day for reigning champion and pre-race favourite Rowena Fry (1:57:36), the Tasmanian fell right off the pace after the first lap to finish a disappointing ninth, over 12 minutes behind O'Shea. The 27-year-old vowed to fight back with a vengeance at the Oceania Championships in Shepparton next month.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Rebecca Henderson (1:31:47) took out the women's under 23 cross country race while Amy Austin (1:26:35) won the under 19 category.
The 2011 Australian Mountain Bike Championships will wrap up on Saturday with the cross country short track and downhill competitions. Cross country champion Chris Jongewaard will return to the track for the men's short track whilst Tasmanian Rowena Fry will also return in the women's event. Queensland's Michael Hannah will start as the fastest qualifier for the elite men's downhill whilst world under 19 champion Troy Brosnan has some work to do after seeding third behind fellow South Australian Connor Fearon. West Australian Holly Baarspul is the fastest Australian qualifier in the elite women's event, behind Canadian Clare Buchar.
What started as a challenge to see if I could complete gravel's biggest race with a training plan based almost completely indoors turned into a battle for survival as the mud piled up and storm clouds rolled in
