MUD RUN: Despite tough conditions, Blake Rountree came third in the latest round of the North Island Downhill Mountain Biking Championships on Saturday.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
MUD RUN: Despite tough conditions, Blake Rountree came third in the latest round of the North Island Downhill Mountain Biking Championships on Saturday.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
IT WAS a hard task just staying on the bike in the middle of a mudlark by Wanganui Collegiate student Blake Rountree managed it to take third place in his grade at the latest round of the North Island Down Hill Mountain Biking championships on Saturday.
Held as the thirdround of the NZDH North Island series at the Fourforty (440) bike park near Auckland, the Year 10 pupil Rountree was up against 15 other riders in his Under 15 grade.
Father Antony Rountree said the teenager had to deal with heavy mud from his first run.
"His second was worse with heavy rain and mud, but he stayed on his bike to get a top three placing," Rountree said.
Conditions were so muddy 440 had to stop their regular Sunday shuttles to let the track recover.
The final NZDH North Island round will be held is just north of Auckland in two weeks' time. Riders have to compete at three of the four rounds to be eligible for the titles.
Blake Rountree missed the opening Rotorua round but managed fourth place three weeks ago in Napier in his first downhill event.
