Albany riders dominate downhill competition

Albany riders dominated the latest round of the WA Downhill State Series, held at their home track on Mt Clarence at the weekend, with six of the 10 divisions won by local competitors.

More than 60 riders took to the challenging Mt Clarence course for practice on Saturday and then race runs on Sunday in round 4 of the State series, hosted by the Albany Mountain Bike Club.

Albany riders shone across many divisions, with the battle between Bobby Cooper and Ben Halsall a highlight in the hotly contested elite men’s category.

Cooper won the division by a mere 0.003sec. over Halsall after recording an impressive time of 1min.23.97sec. down the hill.

Jaxon Sawyer, Cambridge Taylor and Brett Pengelley rounded out the top five in the elite men’s category.

Albany’s Andrew Hannig tasted success in the expert men’s division after stopping the clock at 1:27.26 to edge out fellow local Bryn Westerberg (1:28.94).

Hamish Wilkes powered to a big victory in the under-15 category on his home track, with his time of 1:31.32 well ahead of Riley Wakeling’s (1:38.53).

In the under-13 division it was an all-Albany podium, with Declan Poett taking first place in 1:40.28 ahead of Jackson Poett (1:42.55) and Tyla Anderson (1:43.63).

Albany pair Hayden Kinnear and Lachlan Wilkes finished 1-2 in the under-19 category, with a time of 1:26.66 enough for Kinnear to win the round.

Albany’s Joshua Pearson triumphed in the masters men’s class in 1:35.64. Fellow locals Kevin Forrest and Rob Wilkes filled the minor placings.

Bunbury’s Blair Stewart won the under-17 division narrowly, with his time of 1:28.34 slightly quicker than Albany’s Aden Castlehow (1:28.79).

Thomas Mewhor from Perth won the sport men’s division, with Albany’s Ross Wolfe in second place, while Tim Roach (super masters men) and Caelin Stuart (elite women) were other victors.