Hannah, Picton and Fearon take DH titles

Queensland’s Michael Hannah and Victoria’s Leonie Picton have wrapped up a successful 2011 Specialized Australian Mountain Bike Championships in Adelaide with victories in the elite men’s and women’s downhill competitions tonight.
In the under 19 men’s downhill event, South Australian duo Connor Fearon and Troy Brosnan put on a great contest for the crowd with Fearon upsetting the current world under 19 champion in the race for the green and gold jersey.

Elite men’s downhill

2009 world championships bronze medallist Michael Hannah (QLD) has stayed true to his form in the seeding round to take out the elite men’s downhill national championship, the last event of the 2011 Specialized Australian Mountain Bike Championships.


Recording the fastest run of the championships, Hannah claimed the gold medal in a time of 2:02.36 bumping good friend Joshua Button (NSW, 2:04.27) into the silver medal position followed by Canberra’s Bryn Atkinson (2:04.33) in third.

Reigning national champion Chris Kovarik (QLD) hit the dirt in the lower section of the course, costing the 33-year-old any chance of back-to-back victories.

Hannah, who currently lives in Colorado with his wife, returned to Australia in pursuit of the green and gold jersey.

“Everything went perfect actually,” Hannah said.

“It’s always a bit nerve racking being the last guy, but Josh, a good mate of mine, was leading at the time so I was pretty stoked for him so just wanted to have a clean run.

“I came over here just for the race, I wanted the win.”

Elite women’s downhill

National series leader Leonie Picton (VIC) has continued her clean sweep of the Australian domestic season, taking out the elite women’s downhill competition for her first national championship.

Starting the 2010/11 season with no podium performances, Picton has since posted wins at the Glenorchy, Mt Baw Baw and Mt Buller rounds and she did not disappoint with an impressive performance at Eagle Mountain Bike Park today.


The Maffra rider put everything she had on the line to take the win.

“I made sure I pedaled my guts out, there was nothing left in the tank when I crossed the line. My legs are shaking, I am still shaking, it’s so crazy. This is my first one, so I am ready to bawl my eyes out with excitement,” Picton said.

“I had a very restless night last night just going over in my head what I can do to pick up those times. In my seeding run, I thought I did the best I could have done. Coming out today I had a good think about what I could improve on, walked the track this morning and picked up a few seconds.”

Recovering from a fall near the finish, Canada’s Claire Buchar finished with the second fastest time of 2:33.38. Canberra’s Julia Boer (2:37.24) rounded up the minor placings.

Under 19 men’s downhill

An enthralling battle between two South Australian young guns has produced an upset in the under 19 men’s downhill competition, with Kingswood’s Connor Fearon posting a surprise victory over current world under 19 champion Troy Brosnan.

The victory is the first win of the season for Fearon in what has been in an incredibly tight tussle between the pair throughout the national series.


“This event was the biggest race for this year for me and I made it a goal, so it feels really good,” Fearon said.

“The last two races I have been less than a second off (Troy), and this is the best race to beat him, for the national championship.”

Hoping to make it overseas to compete on the world cup circuit and at the world championships in June, Fearon will have a busy year as he juggles year twelve studies. The 17-year-old admits that whilst riding is his main priority, his parents may not agree.

In other results, Emily Hockey (SA) took out the under 19 women’s downhill and Ryan Standish (NT) the under 19 short course cross country championship.

2011 Specialized Australian MTB Championships – Event Results

Elite men’s downhill

1. Michael Hannah, QLD, 2:02.36
2. Joshua Button, NSW, 2:04.27
3. Bryn Atkinson, ACT, 2:04.33
4. Rhys Willemse, QLD, 2:04.41
5. Ben Cory, ACT, 2:05.66

Elite women’s downhill

1. Leonie Picton, VIC, 2:31.27
2. Claire Buchar, CAN, 2:33.38
3. Julia Boer, ACT, 2:37.24
4. Holly Baarspul, WA, 2:38.77
5. Genevieve McKew, NSW, 2:39.13

Under 19 men’s downhill

1. Connor Fearon, SA, 2:02.57
2. Troy Brosnan, SA, 2:05.28
3. Brandon Yrttiaho, QLD, 2:12.03
4. Ben Power, QLD, 2:11.07
5. Sam Fraser, QLD, 2:12.03

Elite men’s short course cross country

1. Chris Jongewaard, SA, 23:19.11
2. Paul Van Der Ploeg, VIC, 23:19.55
3. Sid Taberlay, TAS, 23:47.02
4. Lachlan Norris, VIC, 23:51.21
5. Ben Henderson, ACT, 24:04.52

Elite women’s short course cross country

1. Katherine O’Shea, VIC, 19:01.57
2. Jenny Fay, IRL, 19:23.02
3. Rowena Fry, TAS, 19:42.12
4. Jenni King, VIC, 19:52.22

NOTE: Full results are available online at www.onlineresults.com.au.
Photos - Chameleon Photography