Wowzers - what a month March has been! It started with our lead up to the LAST Marathon Challenge in Avoca - which was a fantastic weekend for all involved and pretty moving for those who have been there every 4 years. Scroll down for article write ups (thank you Maj (Fitzroy Revolution), Will Geor (iRide), Naomi Hansen (MarathonMTB) and Matt Ligtermoet (Fitzroy Revolution))
The weekend after was the first round of the Victorian Enduro Series held by Geelong MTB Club - The Crazy 6. Rohin was unable to make it this year, but Alan and a crew headed there to help out with the timing etc. A fantastic turn out of 281 riders took to the course in solo or teams of 2/3 for 6 hours or the 3 hours. Round 2 is up in Mt Beauty which counts for 1.5 points towards the series - so first place gets 120points rather than the standard 80 - so it's not to be missed! Oh and don't forget the whole series gets wrapped up in November at our Buxton Bootcamp!
So what does April have install for us? Both Rohin and Alan will be heading to the Wombat 100, we'll also be making a site visit in Wandong for the Dirty Gran Fondo. Just by the Oval Reserve they have recently completed work on a new sport center (remember all the building work last year?) - so we get access to toilets, showers and changing room facilities in 2013! Rohin is heading up to Atherton on 21st April for the Australian Marathon Championship - it's going to get busy!
The Geigerrig Dirty Gran Fondo
The LAST Marathon Challenge
So yes, sadly this years Marathon Challenge was the last of it's kind - with 110 competitors turning up for a REAL challenge it was a great weekend with course records broken in both the men and womens fields. Again the fantastic volunteers from Avoca Primary School, the Golf club and 4wd clubs came out and cheered competitors on - it was a day enjoyed by all.
Plans for Big Hill Events in Avoca now are left down to our trail running event - Run From The Hills on 16th November (read below for more details). We will continue to work on the Pyrenees Endurance trail and hope to put on a small ride in a couple of years to show off the singletrack work we've done. You can still ride up there - if you need any course maps of the area please let us know.
You can read some great write ups from a number of different riders here:
Naomi Hansen - Womens No.1 MTB Marathon
Will Geor - 2nd in 45k Mens (by 1 minute!) - iRide
Our beloved Maj - 2nd in 45k Womens - The Fitzroy Revolution
Matt Ligtermoet - 90k Mens - The Fitzroy Revolution
Again - a huge thanks to everyone who continued support this event from our sponsors to the riders who kept coming back. We know it wasn't easy - it was a Challenge and that's why you loved it or hated it.
Run From The Hills
Back for 2013 - Run From The Hills - Trail running at Mt Avoca. We bus all 21.5k competitors from the winery up into the heart of the Pyrenees to start the race, where they run through singletrack and 4wd roads back to the winery. There is also a 7k option and a juniors FREE fun run (held once the 21.5k runners are back).
First Release entries go on sale on 15th April - there are a limited number of first release entries so don't miss out.
For more information head here
12 Apostles MTB Classic
So who got to watch Cycling Centrals coverage of the 12 Apostles MTB Classic? Rohin featured quite heavily in it - sorry about that. Watch it again on Cycling Central Catch Up. We're proud to announce that entries for the 2013 12 Apostles MTB Classic are open already! So get your entry in - book your accomodation and sit back happy you'll be taking part in what will become one of the biggest 3 day stage mtb events in Victoria.
Visit the event home page
Get your entry in here
