Former Champ Beaten in Speight's Mountain Bike Race 8 Mar 2015
Related articles
- Niki Roderick Extends Depth To New Zealand Record Sport
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- Australia Jumping on the Boy Bandwagon Living
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Snow on The Remarkables Living
- Team Selected for Ultimate Ride Jet-ski Sport
- Trubridge Triumphs With Unassisted Freedive Record Sport
- New Zealand 2011 Business Club launched Business
- 300 feet down: two bare feet and one breath of air Living
Motatapu OffRoad Sporting Event
Relative unknown beats former national champ in 2015 Motatapu Speight’s Mountain Bike Race
Former elite rider Mike Crawford has won the Motatapu Speight’s Mountain Bike men’s title today after passing race leader James Williamson – who was on foot – 300m from the finish line, while national women’s champion Kate Fluker retained her top position.
Former national road cycling champion Williamson, 25, from Alexandra, led the 47km-long race from the 10km mark but his chain broke about 3km from the finish line so was forced to run the rest of the way with his bike. Crawford, 33, from Prebbleton, Canterbury, passed Williamson to finish with a time of 2:18.00.
Williamson crossed the finish line in second place in 2:19.06. Third place went to Brent Miller, of Christchurch, with a time of 2:21.41.
“I came round the corner and saw James running and I thought, ‘he should have won this race’, and I feel I’ve robbed him to a certain extent,” Williamson says.
“I’m completely spellbound – I shouldn’t be beating guys like James. I’ve got a 40-hour week job as a tax advisor and three kids, a mortgage – I basically get on the trainer for an hour each day after 7pm when the kids go to bed, and do a bit of riding on the weekends. I don’t know how I did that, I shouldn’t be here – but I’m stoked that I am.”
Williamson says he’s disappointed with the result but is still proud of his efforts.
“I was looking after myself in the downhill but just towards the end my chain pinged off and went flying. I couldn’t do much about that so I had to run the last bit. I just got passed about 300m before the finish line, so it’s pretty gutting. It’s tough conditions today and when you’re really pushing it hard these things happen. The run was probably the hardest part of the race because I don’t do a lot of running,” Williamson says.
“It’s a tough, competitive race – it draws a big, strong, competitive field. There’s a lot on the line and it’s a good event to do well in,” he adds.
Queenstown-based Fluker, 27, didn’t beat her 2014 record of 2:08.31, finishing the course today in 2:40.23.
“I’m pleased with the win. I knew I wouldn’t beat the record today because of the weather. Dirt turned into mud so it’s harder to get your momentum up. Even the descents were harder, a lot more slippery. Conditions change each year so next year I’ll try to beat the record,” she says.
Fluker says it’s “awesome” to support local races amid her preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
“I just got back from Australia from the Oceania Champs where I managed silver there and I won the Australian national round two days later. Just being able to back up that result – I’m feeling really good. Today was a challenge, but I’m feeling good.”
Relda McDowall, in the open women’s 30-39 category, of Invercargill, finished in second place with a time of 2:43.48 while elite rider Ingrid Richter, of Nelson, finished third.
Some 2843 mountain bikers of all abilities registered to brace the elements to race in wet conditions over the magnificent Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe stations – which open once a year to the public for the iconic off-road event. The event started at Glendhu Bay near Wanaka and finished at Wilcox Green in Arrowtown.
For more details on Motatapu 2015 visit www.motatapu.com
ENDS
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more