Coast to Coast two-day individual champion Finn McKenzie has clinched the under-20 boys’ cross-country title on the second day of the National Schools Mountain Bike (MTB) Championships in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Millie Donald, who recently represented Aotearoa New Zealand at the junior MTB World Championships, won the under-20 girls’ title.
The unique, approximately 3.1km cross-country course began and concluded in the Christchurch Adventure Park village. Riders embarked on their journey towards the valley’s head, navigating a 4x4 gravel track that provided opportunities for overtaking.
McKenzie, of Marlborough Boys’ College, returned to the village just a second ahead of Eddie Adams – who also was a member of the New Zealand team at this year’s junior MTB World Champs.
Donald (58:36) was six minutes ahead of Mt Maunganui College’s Filomena Clug (1:04:13), with Winni Goldsbury (1:07:23) from Cashmere High School trailing by another three minutes.
The under-17 boys’ race was won by Hamilton Boys’ High School rider James Climo in 56:14. The New Zealand u-17 champion finished three minutes ahead of Le Roux van der Leek (Rathkeale College). Christchurch Boys’ High School’s Josh Davies finished third.
Waikato’s Kayley McMillan (Morrinsville College) defeated Christchurch’s Millie Junge (Cashmere High School) to win the under-17 girls.
The under-16 girls' victory went to Nelson’s Lucy Vincent, backing up her fourth-placed finish in the u-16 female enduro on Monday.
Orewa’s Levi Gear scored a win in the under-16 boys’ race over Felix Lloyd (Whangamatā Area School) by a minute.
In other notable performances, Eva Small from Wānaka claimed the girls’ under-15 title by two minutes while Auckland’s Scout Lawson bagged the u-15 boys’ crown by a minute.
Looking at the younger grades, Sophie Vincent (Nelson Intermediate) took the under-14 girls’ honours after placing third in the u-14 female enduro on Monday.
In the under-14 boys’ category, Matthew Wallace from Mokoia Intermediate emerged victorious with 32:25 over three laps. Skerman Hugo of Huntley School (Marton) followed closely, finishing at 32:55.
The leaders in the under-13 categories were Pippi Taylor from Nelson Intermediate for the girls and Pearce Signal from Pyes Pā School for the boys.
In the cross-country relay, the leading teams graced from Hamilton Boys’ High School (under-20 male), Cashmere High (u-20 female and u-16 male), Nelson College for Girls (u-16 female) and Palmerston North Boys’ and Girls combined (mixed).
Two days of downhill racing kicks off on Wednesday, beginning with the junior competitors.
Full results: https://www.sportsplits.com/races/national-schools-mtb-championships-cross-country-2024
