{"id":81201,"date":"2015-03-15T10:31:01","date_gmt":"2015-03-14T23:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flowmountainbike.com\/?p=81201"},"modified":"2015-03-15T10:31:01","modified_gmt":"2015-03-14T23:31:01","slug":"henderson-and-mcconnell-shine-bright-at-subaru-national-mountain-bike-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flowmountainbike.com\/post-all\/henderson-and-mcconnell-shine-bright-at-subaru-national-mountain-bike-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Henderson and McConnell Shine Bright at Subaru National Mountain Bike Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day three of the 2015 Subaru National Mountain Bike Championships, hosted by Mountain Bike Australia, saw spectacular action across Olympic Cross Country racing, Observed Trials and Downhill Seeding in the idyllic location of Bright, Victoria.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Day three of the 2015 Subaru National Mountain Bike Championships, hosted by Mountain Bike Australia, saw spectacular action across Olympic Cross Country racing, Observed Trials and Downhill Seeding in the idyllic location of Bright, Victoria.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cross Country<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Dan McConnell (ACT) and Rebecca Henderson (ACT) are true mountain bike champions, and today they delivered as champions do, defending their National Championships titles and once again earning themselves the green and gold jerseys.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"DanMcConnell_leads_BrendanJohnston-Credit_RussBaker\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the Elite Men\u2019s race, McConnell, Brendan Johnston (ACT) and Cameron Ivory (NSW) made a break from the get go, putting a small gap between themselves and the rest of the pack.<\/span><\/p>\n

They led the other riders for the first half of the race, but on lap 3 teammates McConnell and Brendan Johnston (ACT) broke away from Ivory and the pair would race wheel-to-wheel until the very end.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Paul_Van_der_Ploeg-Credit_JiriCech\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The final lap was anyone\u2019s game, but as McConnell is the third-ranked rider in the world and almost unbeatable at home, he found the extra energy to break away.<\/span><\/p>\n

McConnell charged into the final straight, high fiving his fans as he crossed the finish line, to claim yet another National Championships jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything went really perfect,\u201d said McConnell. \u201cTo be away with Trekky [Johnston] really early, we were able to just control the pace and dictate when we could put in the work and when we could recover a little bit. I\u2019m really happy, not just for myself, but for Trekky to get second is awesome.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"DanMcConnell-Credit_RussBaker\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never gone back to back before so this one is extra special,\u201d McConnell explained. \u201cI\u2019ve really wanted this one for the last couple of months so to get a win and to be able to take the jersey overseas again is awesome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"EliteMenPodium-Credit_JiriCech\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"EliteMenPodiumChampagne-Credit_JiriCech\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In the U23\u2019s race, it was all about Tasmania\u2019s Scott Bowden, who backed up his Oceania Championships title from just two weeks ago with National Championships glory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Paul_Van_der_Ploeg2-Credit_JiriCech\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A crash on lap 1 resulted in a gash on his right knee and removed the number plate from his bike, but Bowden was unstoppable, putting a 1m47s lead in front of the other U23 riders by the final lap, and in the process, completing an Australian season that is almost without peer in 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Under<\/a>
Under 19 champ – Luke Brame.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Much like the Men\u2019s, the Elite Women\u2019s\u00a0race\u00a0turned into a challenge between top-ranked riders Henderson and Peta Mullens (VIC), who both went hard from the start, putting a 35.2 second gap between themselves and third and fourth placed riders Jenni King (VIC) and Jenny Fay (ACT).<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite a small crash on the course, Henderson built this lead up to 50 seconds by the last lap, ensuring that she would once again be crowned the Elite Women\u2019s National Champion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"BecHendersonWins-Credit_JiriCech\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis one is really special,\u201d said Henderson, speaking about retaining the title in her post-race interview. \u201cComing in as defending champion and Oceania champion, it was really important for me to have a good race.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI came in with everything to lose and I was able to pull it together so I\u2019m really happy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In third place was King, Fay finished fourth and Mountain Bike Australia\u2019s Junior Development Coach Jodie Willett (QLD) rounded out the top five.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"EliteWomenPodium-Credit_JiriCech\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The most exciting finish of the day went to the U23 Women\u2019s race, where Holly Harris (NSW) and Em Parkes (VIC) literally went head to head in a sprint finish for the title as they rounded Subaru corner on the third and final lap.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"HollyHarrisEmParkes-Credit_JiriCech\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Riding in to what was an amazing photo finish, Parkes just edged out Harris on the line, finishing only centimetres in front to take the win.<\/span><\/p>\n

Downhill Seeding<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Bright Downhill course is renowned in the mountain bike world for being both technical and spectacular, and as we heard Connor Fearon (SA) say at the Oceania Championships in Toowoomba last month, it is \u201ccapable of hosting a World Cup\u201d. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the 2015 Subaru National Championships we are again lucky to be treated to a feast of Australian downhill royalty, with Tracey Hannah (QLD), Mick Hannah (QLD), Tegan Molloy (NSW), Troy Brosnan (SA) and Fearon all present and racing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Downhill racing takes place over two days, with seeding held this afternoon and racing taking place tomorrow<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s action for the Elite Women saw defending national champion Tracey Hannah record the fastest time of 4:35.72, with Canadian Claire Buchar second in 4:59.10 and Oceania champion Molloy third in 5:15.13.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brosnan is the hot favourite in the Elite Men\u2019s race and today he did not disappoint fans, setting the fastest time for seeding, 3:56.22.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fearon was a very close second, 0.21 seconds behind Brosnan, and Dean Lucas (VIC) was third in 4:03.46.<\/span><\/p>\n

Observed Trials Finals<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Today also saw the start of the spectator-favourite Observed Trials competition, with the valued 20 inch title up for grabs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking out the title with exceptional riding was Nathan Mummery (VIC), and finishing runner up in the closest of competitions was Andrew Dickey (VIC), with Lachlan Sens (VIC) in third.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Expert category was raced combined with women\u2019s action, and it is no surprise that trials superstar Janine Jungfels (QLD) took the win.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second place in expert went to Mitch Ho (NSW) and Kyle Rolands (QLD) finished third.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final day action<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Action on the final day of the of the Subaru Mountain Bike National Championships will be headlined as always by the downhill finals – with Group B racing at 1.30pm and Group A at 3.30pm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Excitingly, the Group A finals will also be live streamed via the Mountain Bike Australia website at\u00a0mtba.asn.au\/livestream<\/span><\/a>, allowing fans around the world to follow along.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spectators in Bright will also be treated to a feast of Cross Country Short Course, Cross Country Eliminator and Observed Trials 26 inch action.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyone is welcome free of charge to watch and cheer along here at Mystic MTB Park in Bright, Victoria.<\/span><\/p>\n

All information about the event can be found online at:<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/mtb.subaru.com.au\/national-championships<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Day three of the 2015 Subaru National Mountain Bike Championships, hosted by Mountain Bike Australia, saw spectacular action across Olympic Cross Country racing, Observed Trials and Downhill Seeding in the idyllic location of Bright, Victoria. Day three of the 2015 Subaru National Mountain Bike Championships, hosted by Mountain Bike Australia, saw spectacular action across Olympic 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