Region’s finest impress at Poikies

Strong fields have taken part in the first-ever round of the WA State Downhill Series held at Poikeclerup (Poikies) on Sunday, hosted by the Albany Mountain Bike Club.

More than 70 riders took part in the fourth round of the State series and Great Southern riders were prominent features on the respective podiums.

Winners from the region included Declan Poett, Hayden Kinnear, Harry Creagh and Paul Fage while numerous other locals made the podium across the 11 divisions on offer.

The event ran smoothly, allowing a long jump and whip competition to be held at the conclusion of the downhill race runs as well.

Kinnear won his under-19 men’s category in thrilling fashion, edging out fellow Albany rider Lachlan Wilkes by 0.41 seconds in the race run.

The new and exciting Poikies course was challenging for all competitors but Kinnear stopped the clock in 1min.27.15sec. to claim the win from Wilkes (1:27.57).

Albany’s Aden Castlehow finished in fifth place while locals Samuel Webb (10th) and Callum Duffield (11th) also competed.

Rising young rider Declan Poett won the under-13 men’s class in a time of 1:42.57.

It was an all-Albany podium with Ashton Sobik second and Rory Wolfe in third place.

Ongerup’s Creagh won the sport men division after recording a time of 1:45.78 to beat Declan Saint and Albany’s Dylan Yeates.

Paul Fage was the only rider in the super masters men category but his time was ultra-competitive, the event organiser producing a slick time of 1:42.10.

In the elite men division Albany’s Brett Pengelley missed out on victory by 0.36sec. after an impressive display.

Visitor Jaxon Sawyer won the race in 1:26.66, the fastest time of the day, to edge out Pengelley in 1:27.03 and fellow local Aaron Leagas (1:27.34).

Also in that division from Albany were Benjamin Halsall (fourth), Nikolas Scott (fifth), Jayde Sleep (sixth) and Andrew Hannig (ninth).

Sophie Adeline and Dora Adeline both made the podium in the elite women, finishing second and third respectively.

Sophie Adeline finished 18.73sec. behind winner Caelin Stuart.

Other impressive results from Great Southern riders included podium efforts from Joshua Pearson and Kevin Forrest in masters men.

Hamish Wilkes (second) and Harper O’Donnell (third) were on the podium in the under-15s.

Ronan Stoner was fourth in the under-17 standings.

In expert men Denmark’s Nathan Devenport was also grabbed fourth place.

Ross McCarroll won the long jump event and Gus Kyme was the winner of the whip competition.