Rocky Trail crowns Downhill and Gravity Enduro State Champions in Thredbo

Rainy days in the event lead up bestowed muddy terrain and testing track conditions upon the participants of Rocky Trail’s Gravity Weekend in Thredbo for the practice and gravity enduro race days. Two thirds of the field competed in the Rollercoaster Gravity Enduro event on Thredbo’s popular flow trail, a wickedly fast and fun descent into the Alpine Village.

Thomas Crimmins clocked in two identical race runs of 7:26 minutes and won nine seconds ahead of Canberra’s Ben Cory and Ryan Walsch. Michael Vanos from the Blue Mountains came in fourth and Thredbo-rider Tim Eaton placed fifth not event 30 seconds behind Crimmins, completing the high-profile gravity enduro elite podium. In the female elite category, Liv/Giant ambassador Claire Whiteman took out the State Championship victory in 18:05 minutes, 15 seconds ahead of Genevieve McKew from Sydney and last year’s title holder Sarah Booth from Newcastle. In the Junior U19 Male category up and coming gravity enduro racer Jackson Frew from Canberra won ahead of Newcastle’s all-rounder Bryan Dunkin and Connor Mackne from Wollongong.

“It’s great to see so many women and also juniors racing these Rollercoaster races. I’ve had a ball riding and racing today, even in the mud”, said Claire Whiteman of the record junior and female fields in Thredbo.

Almost 200 racers competed in the downhill event on the Sunday, which was held under blue skies and in crisp, alpine temperatures. The iconic Thredbo downhill track dried up quickly and as expected the final race runs in the afternoon were much faster than seeding runs at midday.

David McMillan from Canberra clocked in the fastest seeding time with 5:25.96 ahead of 2013 DH Champion Thomas Crimmins from Bredbo. In a gripping race McMillan won with a time of 5:19.58 just shy of a second ahead of race favourite Crimmins and Tim Eaton came in third in 5:28.74. Jake Newell from the Central Coast came in fourth and Thredbo’s Luke Garnham was fifth.

Genevieve McKew from Sydney won with 6:29.08 ahead of Michelle Crisp from Caringbah with a gap of 17.70 seconds. Joanne Fox from Emu Heights came in third with 6:54.13 and young talent Kellie Weinert from Campbelltown came in fourth in 7:02.20. The 2013 title holder Sarah Booth from Newcastle crashed in the final run and placed fifth.

In the Under 19′s Joel Willis from Lithgow defended his State Championship title and won in 5:31.26 with a gap of 13.38 sec ahead of Alec Reid (Gwynneville) and Jackson Frew from Canberra (5:46.07).

Rocky Trail’s State Series events of both competitions will resume in the second half of the year:

RedAss Downhill NSW/ACT State Series Round 1 – 26+27 July at Green Valley’s Free Ride Park

Rollercoaster Gravity Enduro State Series Round 2 –  29 June in Kempsey

For detailed results, please visit www.rockytrailentertainment.com

1. David McMillan / Thredbo MTB, Swell Design, Spezialised / Canberra (ACT) / 5:19.58

2. Thomas Crimmins / Giant Bicycles Australia, Thredbo MTB / Bredbo (NSW) / 5:20:50 +0.92

3. Tim Eaton / Giant Bicycles Australia, Thredbo MTB / Canberra (ACT) / 5:28.74 +9.16

4. Jake Newell / Mondraker Australia, Flowbikes / Kincumber (NSW) / 5:34.88 +15.30

5. Luke Garnham / Thredbo MTB / Thredbo (NSW) / 5:35.76 +16.18

1. Genevieve McKew / Endless Flow, Knolly Bikes / Chatswood (NSW) / 6:29.08

2. Michelle Crisp / High Country Firewood, Asn Miranda, Norco, Deity, Gamut, Evoc / Caringbah (NSW) / 6:46.78 +17.70

3. Jo Fox / Cell Bikes / Emu Heights (NSW) / 6:54.13 +25.05

4. Kellie Weinert / Tight’n’Toned Fitness / Kearns (NSW) / 7:02.20 +33.12

5. Sarah Booth / ADCC, Kona / Newcastle (NSW) / 7:02.39 +33.31

1. Joel Willis / Shimano, Fox, Lusty, Bikeminded / Lithgow (NSW) / 5:31.26

2. Alec Reid / Gwynneville (NSW) / 5:44.64 +13.38

3. Jackson Frew / Gowrie (ACT) / 5:46.07 +14.81

4. Josh Lea / KTR / Helensburgh (NSW) / 5:53.72 +22.46

5. Connor O’Dwyer / Avanti Plus Wollongong / Wollongong (NSW) / 6:01.28 +30.02

U17 Male: Harry Parsons (Mittagong NSW)

Expert Male: Tom Wilson (Eastwood NSW)

Sport Male: Jonathon Foley (Glenmore Park NSW)

Veteran Male 30+: Daniel Seidel (Kiama NSW)

Master Male 40+: Daniel Taliana (Thredbo NSW)

Master Women: Coleen Boyes (Thornton NSW)

SuperMaster Male 50+: Steven Bullard (Hacket ACT)

GrandMaster Male 60+: Steve Coles (Orange NSW)

Junior U15 Male: James Findlay (Jindabyne NSW)

Junior Women: Mackenzie Diver (Thredbo NSW)

1. Thomas Crimmins / Giant Bicycles Australia, Thredbo MTB / Bredbo (NSW) / 14:52

2. Ben Cory / Giant Bicycles Australia, Onya Bike Canberra / Kambah (ACT) / 15:01

3. Ryan Walsch / Trek Bikes / Scullin (ACT) / 15:14

4. Michael Vanos / Springwood (NSW) / 15:17

5. Tim Eaton / Giant Bicycles Australia, Thredbo MTB / Canberra (ACT) / 15:19

1. Claire Whiteman / LIV/giant Australia, Onya Bike Canberra / Kambah (ACT) / 18:05

2. Genevieve McKew / Endless Flow, Knolly Bikes / Chatswood (NSW) / 18:20

3. Sarah Booth / ADCC, Kona / Newcastle (NSW) / 18:37

4. Jo Fox / Cell Bikes / Emu Heights (NSW) / 19:32

5. Kellie Weinert / Tight’n’Toned Fitness / Kearns (NSW) / 20:25

1. Jackson Frew / Gowrie (ACT) / 16:16

2. Bryan Dunkin / Wallsend (NSW) / 16:29

3. Connor Mackne / Alltrack Bicycles / Helensburgh (NSW) / 16:34

3. Callum Carson / Phantom Racing / Figtree (NSW) / 16:34

5. Connor O’Dwyer / Avanti Plus Wollongong / Wollongong (NSW) / 16:35

Expert Male: Rob Wardlaw (Thirroul NSW)

Veteran Male 30+: James Collins (Weston ACT)

Master Male 40+: Daniel Segeri (Kaleen ACT)

Master Female: Coleen Boyes (Thornton NSW)

SuperMaster Male 50+: John Myssonski (Farrer ACT)

Junior U19 Female: Rachel Weinert (Kearns NSW)

Junior U15 Male: Matthew Dinham (Turramurra NSW)

Junior U15 Female: Mackenzie Diver (Thredbo NSW)

Hardtail Male: Jim Le (Lurnea NSW)