Sun Sport
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Bike racers crank it up Home grown riders shone in a top field during last weekend’s leg of the Crankworx Summer Series biking festival, and the event turned on some outstanding racing on the Matangi Station MTB park trails at Alexandra. Alexandra’s Bradley Harris won the Men’s Pro category after some tight racing ahead of Dan Booker (Australia) and Sam Blenkinsop (Christchurch). Eddie Adams in the Youth 15-16 category and part of the Matangi Station team was also outstanding. He finished top in his age group and recorded the sixth fastest time in the men’s field. Bradley Harris’ sister Hayley won the 13-16 female race and Robin Pieper placed fifth in the Pro-Female category. Second placed Pro Female Casey Brown, spent time growing up in Central Otago before moving to Canada where she took up the sport. Racers were tested in wet conditions on Saturday’s practice day, but Sunday turned on with sunshine and summer temperatures.
“We had to adapt for Covid but that didn’t stop the world class riding from going ahead,” Central Otago District Council Chief Executive, and avid cyclist Sanchia Jacobs said. Footage from the Crankworx racing is now being beamed globally, placing the Matangi Station MTB park tracks firmly on the mountain biking map.” All going to plan, the event will return to Alexandra in 2022 with the hope that the limitations imposed by Covid can be avoided and spectator audiences can be welcomed to watch the action in real life. The event is a collaboration of Queenstown Lakes and the Central Otago district councils, the Southern Lakes Regional Events Fund, Central Otago, Queenstown and Lake Wānaka regional tourism organisations and commercial bike parks and facilities. The region will get four weeks of events and activities. The next events are in Wānaka and Queenstown.
Kiwi kids take in the views
The views were on show, but the kea remained elusive when the Central Otago Lakes Kiwi Conservation Club held their first event for the summer on Sunday. The club invited members and their whanau to walk the Rob Roy Glacier track in the Mount Aspiring National Park. Four families and their children aged 5 -15 years old came together to spend a day enjoying the track through beech forest with stunning mountain and glacial vistas. This trip was postponed several times last year due to bad weather and it was great to
finally get to do it during one of the nicest days in recent weeks. All the children and adults were hoping to get a glimpse of the alpine parrots, the Kea, which unfortunately didn't make an appearance. However, watching an avalanche thundering down the mountain side was a spectacular sight for everyone, Chrissi Pettit said.. A couple of parents also reflected about their first visits to the Rob Roy Glacier when they were younger and how much the glacier has retreated during their lifetime. KCC’s philosophy is to connect tamariki and
Eddie Adams won the Youth 15-16 category and was sixth overall in the men’s section.
“We always knew bringing Crankworx to Central Otago was going to be pretty special, and it certainly proved to be just that,” Tourism Central Otago General Manager, Dylan Rushbrook said. their whanau with nature, to foster their love for the environment, to raise awareness of issues and encourage them to become kaitiaki (guardians) of the land. The Central Otago Lakes KCC recently welcomed Megan Sutherland as their new Coordinator alongside Chrissi Pettit. Megan and Chrissi are keen to offer more outdoor trips throughout the year and welcome new children and their families. For more details do to www.kcc.org.nz
PHOTO: Clint Rahan
Main results: Alexandra Super D: Pro Women, Louise Ferguson (GBR) 1, Casey Brown (CAN) 2, Jenna Hastings (NZL) 3. Pro Men, Bradley Harris (NZL) 1, Dan Booker (AUS) 2, Sam Blenkinsop (NZL) 3.
Rock with a view – Winifred McAllister, Nico Pettit, Lulu Pettit, Jack Sutherland, Adam Sutherland, Robbie Hale and Callum Hale took in some beautiful scenery.
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