U23 men's podium: Jack Haig (Aus), Anton Cooper (NZl), Dirk Peters (NZl)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U15 rider Innes Ferrier(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Liam Jeffries(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The start of the elite men's race at the Oceania cross country championships(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The elite men are off(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jack Haig leads Anton Cooper and Dan McConnell(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jack Haig leads Anton Cooper and Dan McConnell(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Anton Cooper leads Dan McConnell(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dan McConnell(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dirk Peters in third in the U23s(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Sid Taberlay in second in the elite men's race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Luke Fetch in third in the elite race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Samuel Gaze leads the U19 men's race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Ben Bradley in second in the U19 men's race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Chris Hamilton leads fellower U19 rider Ben Oliver into the switchback before the final climb(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Ben Henderson back to racing after a long illness. He would finish 6th(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jack Haig just in front of Anton Cooper(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Anton Cooper put in some dominating accelerations on the last lap to overtake Jack Haig on the climb to the final feed zone(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Lead elite man Dan McConnell(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dirk Peters in third in the U23 race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Michael Crosbie in 4th in the U23 men's race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Ben Bradley(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U23 rider Brad Hudson(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jack Haig in second in the U23 race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dan McConnell(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dirk Peters(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U19 men podium: Ben Bradley (Aus), Sam Gaze (NZl), Ben Oliver (Aus)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Harriet Beaven on her way to 2nd in the U19 women's race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U17 men's podium: Michael Potter, Liam Jeffries, Callum Carson(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Lucas Sprosnan, first vet man(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The old event centre provided an area to see three separate cross country course sections(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Tom Green leads Luke Brame(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Alex Lack leads Nathan Johnston(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U17 rider Callum Carson(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U17 rider Michael Potter(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Greg Morgan leads the super masters(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Super Masters rider Glenn Hyland(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Masters rider Ray Hope(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U17 rider Callum Carson(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U17 rider Michael Potter(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U17 rider Liam Jeffries leads Nathan Johnston(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Elite men's podium: Sid Taberlay, Dan McConnell, Luke Fetch (all Australia)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Anton Cooper on his way to a win(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Amber Johnston (New Zealand)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U15 rider Ewan Ferrier(Image credit: Russell Baker)
National veteran men's XC champ and series winner Lucas Sproson leads U19 rider Reece Tucknott in training(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Emily Parkes in training(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Some riders recover from training: Tristan Ward, Jack Haig, Ben Forbes, Emily Parkes(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The elite women's cross county start at the Oceania championships(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U19 women's winner Amber Johnston (New Zealand)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U19 rider Holly Harris leads Emily Parkes and Samantha Hope(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Rowena Fry in second in the elite women's race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Samara Sheppard in fifth among the elite women(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Harriet Beaven(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Sarah Ions leads the U15 women(Image credit: Russell Baker)
U23 rider Bec Henderson on her way to winning(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Rowena Fry(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Tory Thomas(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Karen Hanlen on her way to winning the elite women's race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Amber Johnston(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Harriet Beaven(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Samara Sheppard(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Emily Parkes(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Karen Hanlen cruises toward a win(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Tory Thomas(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jenni King rides in fourth in the elite women's race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Karen Hanlen wins the Oceania cross country champs for New Zealand(Image credit: Russell Baker)
2012 London Olympians Dan McConnell of Australia and Karen Hanlen of New Zealand were crowned the 2013 Oceania cross country champions in Glenorchy, Tasmania on Saturday.
Men
McConnell successfully defended his title in the elite men's category, beating challengers Sid Taberlay (Australia) and Luke Fetch (Australia) to the line.
"I have won this a few times," McConnell said of his third Oceania title. "It's a very good race to set up the season with a lot of UCI points on offer, it's really going to help me for the rest of the season in Europe," the Trek Factory rider said.
Tasmanian expat Taberlay, led the field for the first two laps, riding in a lead group of five including three under 23 competitors.
The inclusion of the under 23 riders Anton Cooper (New Zealand), Jack Haig (Australia) and Dirk Peters (New Zealand) to the lead group ensured a fast and furious pace, eventually getting the better of Taberlay who dropped back with three laps remaining.
McConnell, however, held the wheel of the under 19 junior world champion Cooper and Haig before the pair broke away to complete their final lap in what was clocked as the fastest lap time of the day.
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That left the Victorian to ride tempo to the finish line one lap later to claim the Oceania title, over two and a half minutes ahead of Taberlay.
"There was a fair battle with the under 23 guys and there weren't too many elite men here today. The younger guys had one less lap so the pace was a lot faster than the elite guys.
"I just tried to stay out of their way and they set a good pace for me so I was able to use them to get a bit of gap on the rest of the elite field," McConnell said.
Women
In the elite women's race, Hanlen made up for a shaky start, racing from fifth position to first during the five-lap race.
"I had a really slow start," Hanlen said. "but I then managed to come back nice and strong on the third lap and kept coming back for the finish. I was really wrapped to get a win for an Oceania championship."
The mother of two took out the race ahead of Australia's Rowena Fry (Australia) and Jenni King (Australia).
Fry led the race from the gun with Hanlen hot on her heels, however after the first lap was completed, the New Zealander had slipped well down the field.
Hanlen spent the next two laps making up ground, catching Fry by the bell lap and consolidating her winning position to take a comfortable 45-second win.
"I have been having this happen in my national series and I know once I get through the second lap I kick in and seem to just get stronger and stronger," said Hanlen.
U23
In the under 23 racing, Rebecca Henderson (Australia) claimed the Oceania Championship title, the 21-year-old testing herself against the elite women, finishing a lap early with a sizable lead on the entire field.
In the men's race, Cooper made a decisive move mid-way through the final lap with Haig holding on for second, Peters third.
The action continues at Tolosa Park, Glenorchy on Easter Sunday when the downhill Oceania Champions will be crowned in all categories including elite men and women.
