Race Report: New Zealand’s First Enduro National Champions Crowned in Nelson

The weekend 3rd-5th of March saw first time racers, international pros and everyone in between descend upon Nelson to take part in the Enduro MTB National Championships at the Cable Bay Enduro. The race is in its fourth year running and has become a staple on the NZ Enduro racing calendar, this year the race was particularly interesting for anyone wanting to acquire UCI points to go race the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup overseas. 10 categories in total made up the National Championships. Under 21 and Elite were the UCI sanctioned categories where the winner from both men and women would claim the National Champion title and the right to carry the NZ flag on their race kit sleeve for the 2023 season.

This event is proud to be a high-level race with a low-key vibe where racers of any experience level can take part and have a great day out. Hence, this year, along with the inclusion of the National Championships a Junior Enduro was put on to allow up and coming young shredders who were not quite at the level or age for the main event to get between the tape and be a part of this historic event.

Race Day 1 - Saturday 4 March
While the Junior’s raced their 3-stage enduro the main event participants had a morning of practice. The Junior Enduro saw some serious action - what some of these people lack in height they bring in skill and steeze - The overall winners were as follows:

Girls:
1st: Lucy Vincent
2nd Nina McIntosh
3rd: Sophie Vincent

Boys:
1st: Rio Crisp
2nd Orin Harbinson
3rd: Carter Bisdee

The full results can be found here.

Once the post-race feed, Juicies and Appleby Farms Ice Cream had been devoured, the podium finishers applauded, the photos taken and the spot prizes snapped up the stoked and excitable bunch took off to make some noise on the official Cable Bay Enduro 2023 first stage.

Stage 1 was a run from the top of CCR into lower Gamble and finally Pineline (a clear crowd favorite). The track side was positively littered with noisy spectators and the vibe near the finish utterly electrifying. By 5:30 pm the whole field of 180 racers had made their way down and Shannon Hewetson and George Swift had both set themselves up nicely ahead of day 2 - but with another 5 stages to go the following day, the outcome was far from decided.

That evening many racers and spectators reconvened at the Cable Bay Adventure Park Base Cafe for dinner, live music and more than a few questionable yarns brought about from the day 1 action.

Race Day 2 - Sunday 5 March
Day 2 came along with an early start for some with the first shuttle leaving the bottom at 8.30am. The shuttle would bring the racers up part of the hill and leave them to their own devices for the rest of the day as they conquered the 27 kms and 1450m elevation across 5 stages of grade 4-5 trail. The weather provided a fair bit of moisture which meant for some added bit of spice in the racing, particularly on stage 5 - Hot Sauce.



As racers were finishing up their day and joining friends, family and fellow racers down at the event village it was Eddyline Brewery and the post-race buffet put on by the Base Cafe that ensured both energy levels and spirits stayed high. Prize giving was, as per usual, a spectacle more than just a prize giving and contained classic components such as The Cable Bay Adventure Park Dig Crew Blazer Ceremony, where volunteer trail builders who had dedicated a considerable amount of time during the last year to improving the MTB playground we had raced all over were honored with a Dig Crew branded blazer - Congrats to Aaron, Kerry, Tom, Gareth, Ben and Rory for joining the blazer team and a huge thanks to all the trail crew for the incredible effort they put in to expand the trail network and keep it maintained to a high standard.





As far as the results from the Cable Bay Enduro and the Enduro MTB National Championships 2023 goes below are your UCI category podium finishers with the full results found here.

Elite Men
1st Charlie Murray
2nd Shannon Hewetson
3rd Eddie Masters

Elite Women
1st Rae Morrison
2nd George Swift
3rd Louise Kelly

Under 21 Men
1st Guy Johnston
2nd Ben Odey
3rd Jayden Kaempfe

Under 21 Men
1st Winnifred Goldsbury
2nd Xanthe Robb





The organisers would like to thank Cable Bay Adventure Park for continuing to let people access the park for free and for providing such a quality proving ground for mountain biking in the region, Village Cycles and Specialized as naming sponsors, all the other valued sponsors of the event which can be found here, MTBNZ, Cycling NZ and Nelson MTB Club without whom a National Championship in Enduro would not have been possible, all the racers and supporters and last but not least the incredibly hard working and committed group of volunteers who not only keep riders safe and ensure the event runs smoothly but who bring so much energy and vibe with their passion and love for seeing others excel and grow - A massive Thank You to you all!




Photo credit: Digby Shaw

Posted In:
Racing and Events Enduro Racing Race Reports National Championships