After lengthy stay in hot seat, Harper holds on to women's title

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The downhill finals commenced as soon as the short track had finished. Tension built right through all age group categories in the lead-up to the under 19 and elite events.

The senior men's race bought back to the top step of the podium a well experienced racer, Reon Boe (New Zealand), who has returned to national-level competition after a break of several years. Boe was a popular winner of the senior men's title, as was Madeline Taylor (New Zealand) in the open women's category. She was returning after a two-month injury enforced break.

The under 19 Oceania title race was keenly anticipated by the large crowd as a strong Australian squad were contesting this year, however George Brannigan (New Zealand) was not to be denied at Signal Hill and raced a clean run to win by nearly three seconds from fellow New Zealander Jed Rooney. The best of the Australian squad in this category was young Troy Brosnan who lived up to the promise he has shown through the Australian domestic competition this summer with a third place.

The elite categories were next on the menu. Harriet Harper (New Zealand) had mechanical issues during qualifying and, as a result, was the first woman off the start line. Harper posted a stunning time to lay seige to the leader's hot seat, which she never relinquished as rider after rider crossed the line. Like Brannigan, Harper achieved a rare feat with her victory - both athletes are now dual 2010 National and Oceania champions after earlier this month both winning the National Championships in Wellington. Sarsha Huntington (Australia) provided the best of the Australian challenge with a third place.

In the men's elite race, New Zealand's best athletes were all on hand competing for the Oceania title together with a strong Australian presence led by Rhys Willemse. Cameron Cole (New Zealand) had qualified fastest, but any one of the well regarded contenders were capable of putting down the perfect run to take the podium top step.

New Zealand's highest ranked rider Justin Leov had qualified in the top 10, but front punctured in the Signal rock garden, and his much anticipated challenge was over. First Glenn Haden (New Zealand) then Kieran Bennett (New Zealand) held the leader's hot seat for a long spell, until the last three riders on course displaced Bennett and then each other with quicker race times. None of the final three were given the chance to settle in that leader's seat however, as the last starter on the hill, Cole, turned out a stunning race time to take the Oceania Championship title.

Cole's victory bought to a close the 2010 Oceania Mountain Bike Championships after a full four days of competition and six different events. Host club Mountainbike Otago were happy with the way the event had been delivered, with similar sentiments echoed by the national body Mountainbike New Zealand.

The 2011 Oceania Championships are scheduled for Australia, at a yet to be determined venue.

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