Mountain biking: Brook MacDonald tops downhill podium in Rotorua

Brook Macdonald in typically aggressive form on his way to victory in the elite men's downhill at the Altherm Mountain Bike National Championships in Rotorua. Photo / Cameron McKenzie Photography

After finishing runner-up in three of the last four years, Hawke's Bay rider Brook MacDonald has claimed top honours at the Altherm Mountain Bike National Downhill Championships in Rotorua.

After setting the fastest time in the seeding run yesterday,MacDonald powered down the 2km course in the Whakarewarewa Forest in the final in 2m 45.380s. He held off challenges from fellow professionals Keegan Wright, of Rotorua, the 2017 national champion, and Wyn Masters, of New Plymouth.

Masters set a time of 2m 50.683s to claim the hot seat until Wright edged him by nearly two seconds down the fast, dry and testing course.

Visiting professional Max Hartenstern, from the Netherlands, went faster, but was not eligible for medals and was pipped by MacDonald anyway who grabbed his first national elite title since 2013, also held in Rotorua.

"This means a lot. I had only won it once before so to be able to wear the national jersey in the World Cup circuit is an honour and I will wear it with pride," MacDonald said.

"This is my first competition for some time so it is nice to start the year off with a win. Last year was good and consistent for me," the world No 6 ranked rider said.

"This gives me some confidence as I move into the international competition ahead."

Auckland's Kate Weatherly defended her elite women's downhill title in emphatic fashion. She clocked 3m 7s to win comfortably ahead of Tauranga's Shania Rawson by 17 seconds with Auckland's Virginia Armstrong in third.

"I am so stoked. The track suited me so well and I've been training really hard," Weatherly said.

"I get to train here on a regular basis as well so I am used to the terrain around here. For me now I will compete at Crankworx this week and look to head overseas for the World Cup circuit and hopefully the World Championships."

There were some outstanding performances from the top age group riders, none more so than Auckland teenager Blake Ross, who won the under-19 boys' title.

Ross, a member of Cycling New Zealand's Subway National Mountain Bike Performance Hub, clocked 2m 50.537s which would have placed him on the podium in the elite men's final.

Many of the elite competitors will now turn their attention to the international Crankworx competition in Rotorua starting on Tuesday.

Mountain Bike National Downhill Championship results

Elite Men
1st Brook Macdonald (Napier) 2m 45.380s, 2nd Keegan Wright (Rotorua) 2m 48.817s, 3rd Wyn Masters (New Plymouth) 2m 50.683s.

Under-15 Boys
1st William Harvey (Rotorua) 3m 20.967s, 2nd Jake Earnest (Auckland) 3m 21.063s, 3rd Ryan Hastings (Rotorua) 3m 22.620s.

Under-17 Boys
1st Marcus Ross (Rotorua) 2m 58.170s, 2nd Guy Johnston (Rotorua) 2m 59:647s, 3rd James Macdermid (Rotorua) 3m 01s.

Under-19 Men
1st Blake Ross (Rotorua) 2m 58s, 2nd Finn Hawkesby-Brown (Christchurch) 2m 55s, 3rd Ethan Blanchard (Auckland) 2m 58.803s.

Masters 1 Men
1st Thomas Sinclair (Auckland) 3m 04.213s, 2nd Rhys Telford (New Plymouth) 3m 09.107s, 3rd Matt Hunt (Rotorua) 3m 16.977s.

Masters 2 Men
1st Richard Bodle (New Plymouth) 3m 32.103s, 2nd Andrew Tarplett (Rotorua) 3m 36.923s, 3rd Paul Simkin (New Plymouth) 3m 45.883s.

Masters 3 Men
1st John Cobb (Wellington) 3m 35.057s.

Sport
1st Sam Blenkinsop (Christchurch) 2m 49.123s, 2nd Stanislav Sehnal (CZE) 2m 59.073s, 3rd Mitch Armstrong (Rotorua) 3m 02.137s.

Elite Women
1st Kate Weatherly (Auckland) 3m 07.950s, 2nd Shania Rawson (Tauranga) 3m 24.453s, 3rd Virginia Armstrong (Auckland) 3m 27.283s.

Under-15 girls
1st Caitlin Flavell (Rotorua) 3m 50.487s, 2nd Sacha Earnest (Auckland) 3m 54.023s, 3rd Awen Lloyd (Nelson) 4m 30.410s.

Under-17 Girls
1st Jenna Hastings (Rotorua) 3m 33.227s, 2nd Rebecca Hufflett (Nelson) 3m 58.568s, 3rd Hope Gibbard (Tauranga) 4m 4.9002s.

Under-19 Women
1st Fiona Murray (Christchurch) 3m 51.070s, 2nd Jessica Blewitt (Queenstown) 3m 51.450s, 3rd Maia Jowett (Queenstown) 4m 03.440s.

Masters 1 Women
1st Amanda Monk (Rotorua) 3m 50.147s.

Sport
1st Cati Pearson (Rotorua) 3m 57.190s, 2nd Kaytee Campbell (Rotorua) 4m 04.527s, 3rd Liv Jackson (Rotorua) 4m 28.350s.

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