Timaru X-Scenic

The Timaru X-Scenic MTB race was held in Centennial Park, Timaru with race day turning out to have some good Christchurch competition with Anton Cooper, Logan Horn and myself battling it out in the dry and dusty conditions that made for good racing. With a start loop and 3 laps to complete Anton, Logan and myself broke away on lap one. I attacked up the climb to get out in front and it was clear track ahead of me through the twisty turns and pinch climbs but after a drivetrain issue on one of these climbs (thinking I almost broke my chain) I got back onto our trio. Lap 2 came around and Anton and myself broke away. I had yet another drivetrain issue on a pinch climb having to get off again on a rooty climb losing time as Anton got away. Lap 3 was my best lap hunting Anton down after my problem doing some solid big ring efforts and bringing him back into sight before the finish but unfortunantly I ran out of track to take him ending up coming second by 6 seconds.

South Island Cup 2010

The first round of the South Island Cup kicked off at Living Springs and I was amping to get back racing again after missing out on some key events which make good preparation for the season. The pace was intense on the first lap but once on the second lap the field started to spread out. Richard Anderson, Anton Cooper and myself were the three leading Under 19's but Richard had a nasty crash on the downhill putting him out of the race. Once on lap 4 of 5 I hit the wall and managed to keep hold of Second place to the finish.

Round two was down at Dunedin and after the morning race the track turned out to be in good condition only wet in a couple of sections. After the start I was about forth place around the start loop and once the major climb of the lap came by Brendon Sharrett (elite) got the power going and shot up the climb. I followed this dash and managed to break away from the rest of the field keeping a solid lead for the rest of the race finishing first by almost 2 minutes.

Round three was held in Nelson and after coming back home from a short holiday it was a night's stay in Nelson for the final of the South Island Cup. It was raining heavily the day before the race but race day turned out to be alright holding off further down pour. I had a good start ducking up the inside to be up the front after starting on the second row. I ended up about fifth on the single track getting stuck behind traffic until the climb. It wasn't a very good race for me not having that aggressive 'buzz' but I ended up coming 2nd and becoming the Under 19 2010 South Island Cup Champ.

Bring on the Nationals!