Alexandra's Matthew Scoles has won a bronze medal in the junior men's downhill on the final day of the UCI Mountainbike World Championships in Scotland.
Scoles led a strong performance from the New Zealand downhill team in treacherous wet and windy conditions at Fort William in the Nevis Range. The New Zealanders continued their strong results in world downhill competition in recent years with five riders placing in the top-20.
Christchurch junior woman Holly Kernohan-Smith was fifth in her event.
Wanganui's Sam Blenkinsop was ninth in the elite men's competition in his first full year in the top level. Auckland's Jennifer Makgill was the best of the elite women in 13th place, just ahead of 2004 world champion Vanessa Quin (Tauranga) in 14th and Queenstown's Scarlett Hagan in 19th.
"The downhill riders continue to achieve every year at the highest level," manager Greg Leov said. "Today was incredibly tough and testing. It has been wet here most of the week but today was constant rain and later in the day some high winds."
"The riders did well to stay upright in some races and overall they were quite outstanding today."
"Matthew Scoles rode very well and Sam Blenkinsop was brilliant in his first year at the top level and I expect some big teams will be chasing him now."
"The women were very solid and competitive also. Overall it was a very satisfying day for us."
The downhill competitors also showed their resourcefulness after the team transport was blocked by a major slip on the road back to their hotel in nearby Onich.
"They left the management with the vehicles, walked the 3km passed the slip and got rides to the hotel. We are still stuck here and if it is not cleared tonight we will head back to Fort William."
"I expect to see all the New Zealanders will find their way back again because the traditional after-event
party is back at Fort William later tonight," Leov joked.
Summary, Results, Downhill, UCI Mountainbike World Championships:
[Click here for Full Results]
Elite Men:
Sam Hill (AUS) 4:52.01, 1;
Fabien Barel (FRA) 4:52.65, 2;
Gee Atherton (GBR) 4:56.38, 3.
New Zealanders:
Sam Blenkinsop (Wanganui) 5:01.77, 9;
Mike Skinner (Auckland) 5:18.18, 39;
Kieran Bennett (Nelson) 5:20.46, 43;
Glenn Haden (Wanganui) 5:49.95, 72;
Nathan Rankin (Levin) 6:13.94, 80.
Junior Men:
Ruaridh Cunningham (GBR) 5:06.82, 1;
John Swanguen (USA) 5:08.89, 2;
Matthew Scoles (Alexandra, NZL) 5:09.27, 3.
Other New Zealanders:
Michael Langford (Wellington) 5:26.93, 24;
David Scandrett (Christchurch) 6:02.82, 49;
Peter Cooper (Blenheim) 8:10.16, 54.
Elite Women:
Sabrina Jonnier (FRA) 5:28.35, 1;
Rachel Atherton (GBR) 5:32.36, 2;
Tracey Hannah (AUS) 5:39.89, 3.
New Zealanders:
Jennifer Makgill (Auckland) 5:57.48, 13;
Vanessa Quin (Tauranga) 5:58.63, 14;
Scarlett Hagen (Queenstown) 6:08.16, 19;
Olivia Johnston (Christchurch) 6:18.23, 23;
Amy Laird (Christchurch) 6:19.15, 25.
Junior Women:
Floriane Pugin (FRA) 5:50.18, 1;
Katy Curd (GBR) 6:17.30, 2;
Myriam Nicole (FRA) 6:41.48, 3.
New Zealand:
Holly Kernohan-Smith (Christchurch) 6:53.46, 5.
[Click Here for Full Results] |
