NZ DH Nationals 2016 - Round One, Auckland
After the preceding weather turmoil, riders, staff, and spectators were left feeling uneasy as to what race day would bring. To say there was a big sigh of relief on race day would be an understatement. The forecast determined there would be a large amount of cloud cover, with the odd drizzle and in the end, it was almost a different track, with conditions as far from practice day's smooth and creamy peanut butter as you could get.
![NZ DH Nationals Round One - Auckland - Race Day]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round One - Auckland - Race Day]()
One of the many features on the track was an uphill step-up after a road which riders were spinning out their biggest gears on. This feature played host to an unofficial huck comp throughout the day!
![NZ DH Nationals Round One - Auckland - Race Day]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round One - Auckland - Race Day]()
Seeding runs started just before lunch and this was everyone's first true test to see who had been working hard over the winter. Who had the best lines, and who the danger men and women were before the showdown.
![NZ DH Nationals Round One - Auckland - Race Day]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round One - Auckland - Race Day]()
Seeding results got posted on the side of a van and riders scrambled so see how the fared. There were many upsets in the elite ranks, Blenki in theory, should have seeded faster than Keegan but Keegan was two seconds up - a big margin on a 2:30 track. Wyn Masters finished back in fourth, and the surprise of the day Kyle Lockwood finished in third. Lisa Horlor put 13 seconds on second place in seeding and Sophie Tyas was off the back. Many nerves were settled but many were raised too, it was a real toil for those who set high personal goals.
FINALS
![NZ DH Nationals Round One - Auckland - Race Day]()
![NZ DH Nationals Round One - Auckland - Race Day]()
One of the many great upsets of today, local park rat Carson Rayner pipping World Cup Junior, Cole Lucas for today's gold.
Results
Elite Men
1. Sam Blenkinsop
2. Wyn Masters
3. Kyle Lockwood
4. Keegan Wright
5. Peter Bethell
Elite Women
1. Lisa Horlor
2. Amy Cole
3. Sophie Tyas
Round 2 is in 5 days time in Napier, New Zealand, a track that has had large input from Brook Macdonald. Expect to see the bulldog racing and showing everyone who is the boss on his home track.
MENTIONS: @Josh-Malmo-Photography / @440mtbpark / @mtbnz / @CamP1
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A quick tyre change in morning and riders were ready to take to the hill for morning practice.
Fourforty Mountain Bike Park have a faultless shuttle system that saw no riders missing their start times today. Empty Trailers ready for the first morning uplifts.
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 No time for chit chat Ed, it's race day. |
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| Thumbs up from Finn Parsons at go time. |
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| Cam Mackenzie cutting under the second bridge during morning practice. |
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| Charlie Makea looking composed coming into the road crossing. This was one of the parts of the track which didn't dry out overnight and remained greasy. |
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| Sid is the Joker on the 3Sixty Racing team, we can only imagine he is getting a hard word from boss man Bruce. |
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| They call themselves team "Backdoor Action" - a joke from an old team that has since stuck. If you're searching for top quality banter, look them up. |
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| Wyn Masters wasn't about to miss any of today's action. |
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| Lisa Horlor through the ferns, loving morning practice and by far the quickest lady on the hill today. The great thing about Lisa turning up to race was that it was an on the fly decision. |
 | "I had a free weekend off work for the first time since before Christmas, I wanted to ride my bike and heard of the race being on. I didn't even know until, like, 8 pm Friday night, so here I am and ready to have fun. It's really just a good chance to see everybody and cut laps together." - Lisa Horler |
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| Blenki getting his tuck on. |
One of the many features on the track was an uphill step-up after a road which riders were spinning out their biggest gears on. This feature played host to an unofficial huck comp throughout the day!
The Hamilton brothers hucking their meat. Connor Hamilton 2nd Place.
Louis Hamilton, no questions asked, 1st Place.
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| Morning practice finished but not without one serious crash sidelining the people's favourite - Logan Jensen. |
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| One collarbone / shoulder isn't enough to keep Logan away from the afternoon action. |
Seeding runs started just before lunch and this was everyone's first true test to see who had been working hard over the winter. Who had the best lines, and who the danger men and women were before the showdown.
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| Jack Fisher gritting his teeth and charging to the line during his seeding run. |
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| Keegan opening up his air intake, no worries, though, Keegan was the fastest man in seeding finishing two seconds up on second place, Sam Blenkinsop. |
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| Amy Cole moments before we got caught in the crossfire of her roost. |
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| Rotorua's fastest open man, Dane Nimmo made the jump up from open to elite for the national series. He rode the bull hard in his race run, snapping his carbon bars. |
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| Wyn blasting through the greenery and riding to 4th place in seeding. |
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| The once dark horse, Peter Bethell, local Auckland rider and dangerously fast, rode into a 5th place seeding. |
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| Lisa Horlor finished 13 seconds up from 2nd place in seeding. She was the last elite lady to drop in during finals. |
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| Blenki seeded in second, two seconds behind Keegan Wright. |
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| Jack Humphries showing use all how to look moto, take notes. |
Seeding results got posted on the side of a van and riders scrambled so see how the fared. There were many upsets in the elite ranks, Blenki in theory, should have seeded faster than Keegan but Keegan was two seconds up - a big margin on a 2:30 track. Wyn Masters finished back in fourth, and the surprise of the day Kyle Lockwood finished in third. Lisa Horlor put 13 seconds on second place in seeding and Sophie Tyas was off the back. Many nerves were settled but many were raised too, it was a real toil for those who set high personal goals.
Riders knew what they needed to do come show time.
Auckland hecklers know how to bring the noise.
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| First-year rookie, Cam Mackenzie composing himself ready to head up for his final run. |
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| Sophie Tyas riding to bronze in Elite Women. |
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| Amy Cole got sideways the wrong way over the final hip and came up short. She must have been doing her bench presses with Cam Cole because she rode it out despite the kick. |
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| Carson Rayner on his golden run. |
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| Captain inside lines Liam Jackon. |
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| Louis Hamilton looked well composed throughout the day but it just wasn't his day, finishing up in the mixer. |
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| Blenki holding it wide in the last fresh line. |
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| Today was not to be Bryn Dickerson's day, A large nose dive over the step up say vital seconds slip away. |
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| Kyle Lockwood flying into bronze, it's been a long road back for Kyle who has had his last 2 seasons plagued with injuries. |
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| No ones knows what happened on the hill but it would be interesting know how Keegan Wright slipped back to fourth after showing such dominance in seeding. |
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| Under 19 Men's Podium. |
One of the many great upsets of today, local park rat Carson Rayner pipping World Cup Junior, Cole Lucas for today's gold.
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Results
Elite Men
1. Sam Blenkinsop
2. Wyn Masters
3. Kyle Lockwood
4. Keegan Wright
5. Peter Bethell
Elite Women
1. Lisa Horlor
2. Amy Cole
3. Sophie Tyas
Round 2 is in 5 days time in Napier, New Zealand, a track that has had large input from Brook Macdonald. Expect to see the bulldog racing and showing everyone who is the boss on his home track.
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MENTIONS: @Josh-Malmo-Photography / @440mtbpark / @mtbnz / @CamP1
Author Info:
Member since Mar 6, 2011
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Is it just me or is this caption impossible to read?
Just look the woman behind him..those twins are huge O_0