Strong numbers hit the track for Albany Mountain Bike Club’s inaugural Pump Jam

Albany Mountain Bike Club hosted its inaugural Pump Jam event at the new Albany Youth Challenge Park on Sanford Road on Friday, April 1.

Fabulous conditions made for thrilling pump-track racing, with only seconds splitting the best from the rest.

There were more than 30 history-making competitors with the field split evenly between junior and senior riders.

Around 50 spectators and supporters watched the lightning speed, skill and reactions from some of the local leading and up-and-coming talent.

There was also a good turnout of older competitors re-living their childhood dreams on fancy dirt jump bikes, creating a diverse and supportive environment filled with fun times and music to create quite a spectacle.

A large, strong contingent from Denmark Mountain Bike Club joined the party atmosphere.

DMBC president Nathan Devenport is nurturing a terrific young bunch of talented riders west of the Hay River who all showcased their skills. With less than nine-tenths of a second splitting men’s A-grade riders Brett Pengelley, Harper O’Donnell and Bobby Cooper, timekeeper Chris Idle did an amazing job with professional live timing updates throughout the event.

Denmark young guns Robert Glynn and Kaiden Godden rounded out the top field.

Women’s A-grade was taken out by reigning Women’s State Enduro Champion Jess Waldron, followed closely by Abbey O’Donnell in second and club president Dora Adeline honed her skills in a new discipline to secure third place.

Meanwhile in the women’s under-15s Marcey O’Donell dominated the field to take out top spot.

Less than two-tenths of a second separated winner Lorcan Contier and Hector Volckerts in the under-15 male race and Angus Spinks was third.

Meanwhile, Seamus Contier set Flynn Devenport, Oscar Mackey and Jesse Fuller a cracking run out in front in the under-11 male race.

The under-13 male race was won by Ethan Grobbler with Marley Weir and Cooper Dixon placing in second and third respectively.

In the under-9 male race Wes Devenport and Finnley Dixon had a shootout for first and second respectively.

In men’s B-grade young Denmark jet Elih Wither nudged out talented veterans Nathan Devenport, Michael White and Brad Waldron. A young, strong Rae Boyd took advantage in men’s C-grade and easily accounted for the elder statesmen Paul Mackey and Reece Mclean who all battled it out in a fierce rivalry.

Race director and dad to some of the fastest on the track Paul O’Donnell said the event was a success.

“It was an amazing kick-off event and we can’t wait to build further on our success and the amazing family atmosphere it created,” he said. “We have bigger plans for the next Pump Jam, incorporating some food vendors and an even better party atmosphere, music and spectator spectacle.”