Curry's ready for national downhill

By KATIE FARMAN After going from strength to strength during the just completed gruelling national mountainbike series, Des Curry is hoping his resilient form will continue for another three days.

The Rotorua rider has spent the past two months burning up hilly tracks and forest trails around New Zealand to claim third overall in the men's pro-elite downhill series behind winner Justin Leov, from Blenheim, who was ranked number 12 in the world in 2004. But now Curry is trusting his body and mind will peak during tomorrow's Subaru Downhill Championships to be held on the newly-built track at Mt Ngongotaha.

"I started the national series with the goal to finish in the top three," the 19-year-old timber worker told The Daily Post.

"But it took me a while to get started. My first two races I finished eight and fifth, before things started to click."

Thankfully for Curry, things began to click during round four - on the fast and dusty Blenheim track. Even though he was unable to hold off Leov, he finished the race in second place after clocking recording 3min 0.99s.

"Blenheim was awesome," the youngster reflected. "It was so dusty and loose and really fast and I just felt really strong."

As he prepares for tomorrow's championships, Curry is certain an intriguing showdown on the track will ensue between himself and New Zealand's most experienced rider John Kirkcaldie, who has enjoyed great success on the North American circuit over the past five years, Leov and Nathan Rankin.

"I definitely want a top-five finish and I know who the fastest people will be, but anything can happen on the day - both good and bad," he said.

An intriguing battle is also expected on the women's downhill with two Kiwi world downhill champions going head-to-head in the form of Junior World Champion Scarlett Hagen from Queenstown and Elite Women's World Champ Vanessa Quin from Tauranga.

The pair won their world championship medals and the coveted UCI rainbow jerseys within a few hours of each other in Les Gets in France in September.

"I'm really looking forward to racing the National Champs in Rotorua this year," said Quin, a finalist in last night's prestigious Halberg Sports Award.

"It will be our first peek at the proposed 2006 World Champs track and a good chance to size up the hill."

In Sunday's Elite cross-country championships, Mangakino's Mike Northcott and Christchurch's Rosara Joseph will attempt to continue their dominance from the national series.

However, with the race being a winner takes all on the day affair, the pair are expected to be pushed hard by Stuart Houltham, defending women's champion Sonia Foote of Rotorua, former Swiss rider Annika Smail, now based in Auckland and Gabby Molloy.

Meanwhile, expert junior men's rider Clinton Avery is hoping for big things this weekend. After dominating his junior class during the national series and raising eyebrows by finishing a credible sixth place in the final men's pro-elite race in Auckland, the Rotorua rider is hoping this week's training will hold him in good stead on Sunday.

"I'm not really expecting anything as I know that anything can happen on the day, but I do know I am capable of winning the event," he said.

"I've had some good training this week including some motor-pacing on Wednesday and I am feeling pretty strong."

Avery, a student a Lakes High, predicts he will be pushed by fellow Sulphur City riders Sam Bewley, John Grey and Aaron Perry while a number of other local age-group riders representing the expert and sports classes - from juniors to the over 50s - are also expected to test their skills on the 2006 world championship course.