What a ‘Dirty Weekend!’
An incredible turnout for a massive weekend of mountain biking! With perfect cool racing conditions, The Pines in Margaret River hosted the State XC Championships on Saturday and WA Gravity Enduro Round 5 on Sunday. A great turnout on both days, with WAGE hosting 200 competitors and over 100 spectators on Sunday in a 5 Stage Gravity Enduro race format.
With access limitations caused by recent logging, we were privileged to be able to race in The Pines thanks to Forrest Products Commission (FPC) and the Department of Parks and Wildlife, who were amazing in working with us to allow the event to proceed….they even called us Saturday morning to let us know The Pines were officially re-open!
The Pines are renowned for short but intense descents and this was played upon in the stage setup. Due to the course shortness, we introduced a slightly revised format, where stages could be completed multiple times in any order where a competitors fastest stage time was used in a 2.5hr overall time limit. This was very well received and made for some interesting and exciting racing.
However, Margaret River isn’t just about mountain bike racing – with excellent accommodation and local tourist attractions, it makes a great excuse to get away for the weekend with family and friends and experience the amazing countryside in the south west and enjoy all the top quality food and wine in the area.
A crankin” race village at Wharncliffe Mill before the race
Stage 1 was a great warm up for competitors. Dropping into the trail from Wharncliffe Mill, competitors pedalled hard through the top flow section before some tight bends and rocky sections in the mid-section followed quickly by getting back on the gas, tucking in and pedalling hard to the tight-right at the finish to ensure competitors didn’t end up in a loungeroom at the Riverglen Chalets. The average time for this stage was 00:01:53 with Dave Nairn and Sam Rubery equalling the quickest time of 00:01:32.
Sam Rubery taking the win in Male U19, and the fastest for the day!
Stage 2 is a new trail and was a lot of fun. Tight off camber switchbacks with some challenging log-overs meant this stage which averaged 00:03:43 which saw competitors pull up hard under brakes to tag-off without having a chance to test the strength of the park bench alongside some sketchy pea-gravel! Sam Rubery posted the fastest time for this stage with a blistering 00:02:29 – clear by 7seconds!
Stage 3 could have been considered the highlight stage of the day, and is of-course known as Big Pine. A flat section at the start saw competitors pump some jumps, before dropping into Big Pine. Take the log-ride or take it wide…a close choice and hot-topic of what really was the faster line? 00:03:31 was the average time for Stage 3 and again, Sam Rubery showing us all how its done by 5 seconds with a time of 00:02:52.
Stage 4 saw the introduction of ‘Hoodies’ into this years race. Flatter up the top before again dropping into a short and sweet descent before tagging off. 00:01:56 was the average time for this stage, with Sam Rubery posting the fastest time of 00:01:33 – clear by 3 seconds.
Jordan Prochyra #onthehunt to take the 1st Place for the Male Elite
And Stage 5, on average, the shortest stage but arguably the hardest for an enduro rider. A flat fire-road sprint saw some heckling from queuing competitors before dropping into Managers. Adam Fountain was the unlucky competitor whose middle finger decided it didn’t want to be straight anymore, but the St John Officers decided otherwise and a short trip to hospital saw Adam return to the village after the race enjoying a cold one! With an average time of 00:01:23, Male Elite winner Jordan Prochyra took the top spot for this stage with 00:01:07 by 2 seconds, with Sam hot on his pedals! The Wharncliffe Mill was the epicentre of the weekends racing, and Adrian and the team did an amazing job in keeping the area in pristine condition and allowed us to use all facilities in the area. When you are back in Margaret River, head to the Wharncliffe Mill and thank Adrian for his hospitality! With trails literally on your doorstep, its a great place to stay!
Male U15 competitor Cody Morgan visualising his Stage 5 run
Well done to all competitors and podium placers and a huge thanks to MRORCA for assisting with the day’s racing and providing volunteers to marshal. WA Gravity Enduro is proud to donate $400 to the Margaret River Off-Road Cycling Club (MRORCA). We look forward to another Dirty Weekend!
Jodie Berry representing MRORCA and the happy recipient of $400 for the club
WA Gravity Enduro loves to see more women in mountain biking, and we believe Margaret River was our biggest female contingent! Congratulations to all these competitors for coming out and having some fun!
Females out in force!
Female U15 winners [1 – Nerys EDDY, 2 – Scout MCCORMACK, 3 – Sophie JOHNSON]
Female Sport [1 – Sarah FRENCH, 2 – Ingrid FUHRMANN, 3 – Danielle STONE]
Female Masters 40 – 49 [1 – Rebecca STEEL (pictured Kate SHEEHAN), 2 – Carolyn RYAN, 3 – Kyra EDDY, 4 – Sandra CONNOR]
Female 19 – 39 Elite [1 – Bronwyn SAX, 2 – Katja ALSOP, 3 – Kate SHEEHAN]
Female Masters 50+ winner Kris METCHER scaring off the competition!
Male Under 19 winners [1 – Sam RUBERY, 2 – Blake PEARCE, 3 – Samuel BUCHANAN]
Male U15 [1 – Roly KYME, 2 – Riley JENKINSON, 3 – Jesse MORGAN]
Male Sport winners [1 – Dave LEECH, 2 – Garry WELLMAN, 3 – Emmet KELLY]
Male Masters 50+ [1 – Tony TUCKNOTT, 2 – Mark RUBERY, 3 – Rick TWINE]
Male Masters 40-49 [1 – Nicholas ALGIE, 2 – Darren JOYNES, 3 – Michael KERKLAAN]
Male Elite [1 – Jordan PROCHYRA, 2 – Dave NAIRN, 3 – Jimmy PRITCHARD]
Huge thanks again to our supporters:
- Chain Reaction Cycles
- High 5 Sports Nutrition
- Hybrid Linings (Quality Internal / External Ceilings and Walls)
- Common Ground Trail Planning, Design, Construction
- Rock n Roll Mountain Biking
- Foothills Cycles / Jet Cycles Kelmscott
- EMR Suspension Specialist
- Prodigy Painting
- Three Chillies Trail Design and Construction
- IGA Beeliar
- Bootleg Brewery
- MRORCA
- Wharncliffe Mill
and a personal thanks once again to our volunteers on the day: Trent, Steph, Peter, Jason, Reece and Kyra!
For a full list of results, follow this link
DONT FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE FINAL ROUND OF 2015!
Balingup is sure to bring you back in 2016, with Saturday practice, camping and Sunday’s race, this will be another epic weekend that you need to write in the calendar!
As usual, registrations close midnight Tuesday. Don’t forget to check here to confirm your race plate BEFORE registering.If you have already raced with us, this is your ID to enter!
BRING – wristband (all to be handed in) and raceplate!