Thousands watch spectacular Crankworx Cairns 2023 at Smithfield mountain bike trails ‘Sik Mik’ wows local crowds

l SMITHFIELD | Nick Dalton LOCAL champion Mick “Sik

Mik” Hannah has taken a win at Crankworx Cairns as he took home the win in front of a roaring crowd of fans, friends and close family.

While some riders agonised over endless training laps to try and find the fastest lines down the perilous track, others found confidence in a familiar course that hasn’t changed much since its build in 2006.

Not surprisingly, one of these riders happened to be the fastest on the day, thanks to over 30 years of experience on the track.

“It’s amazing. It’s maybe the fifth international race I’ve had here. I’ve had seconds and been very close. I was third here last year, so to get the win was really special,” said Hannah.

“Today is my mum’s 60th birthday so it makes it extra meaningful. We had lots of family here for that, so for all the people who had been following me online for so long to finally see me in person and take the win, it was awesome.”

Despite the decades of practice on the challenging track, Hannah said he was acutely aware of how calculated he had to be out there in race that was ultimately decided by three tenths of a second.

“This is a finicky track to race, you have to be quite precise,” said Hannah.

“It’s such a fine line to push the limit and still ride clean enough. I made a few little mistakes, but I felt pretty good. I just buried myself in the sprint in the end and it ended up being enough.”

Taking home the silver, Jackson Frew narrowly missed taking down Hannah, the hometown hero by three tenths of a second.

Despite being disappointed by the result, the feeling of despair would be short lived as he appreciated the beauty in losing to the local legend.

“It felt really really good. Any time you’re that close to Mick, its a really really good day in the office,” said Frew.

“Unfortunately it was that close which kind of stings, but its Mick and I’ve got so much respect for him. I’ve looked up to him for such a long time, so to be that close here (on Mick’s home track), that feels absolutely incredible.”

Joining Hannah on the top step of the podium was New Zealand’s Jenna Hastings, who returned to her winning ways after an extended series of close seconds and podium finishes.

“I’ve been getting podiums a lot … seconds, thirds, fourths and I just really wanted to win again,” said Hastings. “I think I just wanted it a lot today and left it all out there in the sprint ...”

Sport Results

MARLIN COAST BOWLS CLUB

Tuesday morning bowls winner: L Whitehead, R Alcock, B Thorne.

Tuesday afternoon men’s triples winners: D Smith, G Midson, B O’Connor; R/up: P Hamilton, N & B Morris.

Tuesday night bowls spider: Shooee, Paper, Bob, Ian, Trusty, Sisca, Rod.

Wednesday mixed bowls winner: Evie, Olga, Danny; R/ up: L Barber, G Barber.

Thursday mixed triples winners: Allan, Brad, Andy; R/up: Esther, Shane, Glenda.

Saturday morning scroungers winner: Bronwyn Andreatta; R/up: Anne Ashton. Club

Championships: Men’s B grade singles: D Grummitt def P Callaghan, 26-115; S Bettess def S Vidgen, 25-17; R Gillman def S Bettess, 26-6.

BROTHERS EDMONTON

Ladies: Thursday May 18th consistency singles: L Hoskins def C Morris.

Championship triples: J Rick, G Buttigieg, R Fraser def A Windsor, C Morris, K O’Halloran.

Men’s: Wednesday May 17th: Winner: G Rizzo, D Daffy, G Cann; R/up: A Del Favero, J Jackson, R Morris, 3rd M Harker, R Taggart, M Colmer.

Championship A grade singles: B Power, 26 def S Mc-

Quade, 20.

Saturday May 20th pennants: Div 2: Marlin Coast def Brothers Edmonton; Div 3: Brothers Edmonton def Marlin Coast.

EDGE HILL BOWLS CLUB

Ladies Bowls: Thursday May 18th social bowls winners: Yvonne Bolton and Jeannie Wild.

Championship triples: Karina Homer, Tania Sprengel and Margaret Wardrop def Lou Pomroy, Elaine Whitehead and Trish DeRon, 22-19.

Pennant game 1 Edmonton def Edge Hill 91-52.

Men’s Championship Bowls: Club A grade singles: Mal Taylor def John Hayes, 25-15.

Club B grade singles: M Kowalczyk def Wayne Hunter, 25-12.

Club pairs: Wayne Hewitt and Matt Norrie def Wayne Petrohilos and Ashly Hammond, 27-13; Nick Twining and Lyle Braggins def Chris and Steve Henson, 22-21.

Tuesday May 16th mixed social bowls winners: Lou Pomroy and Ian Stafford.

Wednesday May 17th winners: Ron, Mac and Kim; R/up: Russell, Bernie and Barry.

Saturday men’s pennant: Div 1 Edge Hill def Marlin Coast away and won all rinks 75-37. Div 2 had a bye.

Div 3 Edge Hill def Stratford at home and won on all rinks 52-30.

WEST CAIRNS MEN

Tuesday May 16th winners: Wally, Wayne, Steve; R/up: Nick McIntyre, Russell Lamb, Mal Taylor.

Thirsty Thursday best play- ers: Daryl Hooper, Ted Hellmuth, and visitor Graham Collins.

Club championship A grade singles: Steve Kavanagh def Maurice Hetherton, 26-16.

Friday night scroungers winner: Edna Parks; R/Up: Irene Crampton.

Sunday 21st winners: N Kehrer, M Gordon, Mal Taylor; R/up: C Ballentyne, R Radinga, T Mor; jackpot not won. Round 2 pennants Div 1: West Cairns def Innisfail, 7045. Div 2: South Johnstone def West Cairns, 41-42.

WEST CAIRNS TPI

MEMORIAL BOWLS CLUB

Monday Mixed social bowls in windy conditions with 11 bowlers, winners: David Nicholls, John Sawyer and John Frisch. We are still seeking more bowlers who wish to join us to contact selector Rosemary on 0409 624 623 before midday next Monday to have their names included.

Play is on a carpet green covered by a fixed roof making play available at most times. Visitors from other clubs are welcome to visit us.

MAREEBA BOWLS CLUB

Wednesday social bowls winners: H McWhirter, B Dalgety, L Cummings; R/up: R McWhirter, P Brown, E Lennord.

Thursday jackpot pairs winners: S Soda, G Brown; R/up: C De Zen, J Dennis. Best of 2nd game: N Bates, C Linster.

Sunday social winners: S Tiraboschi, L Cadorin, V Tiraboschi; R/up: R McWhirter, C De Zen.

The Foundation will work with Queensland Health on the $3.4 million project, which will lessen the need for patients having to travel south for treatment. They will be cared for here at Cairns Hospital Cancer Care hub, close to those who love them. Scan