MTB

One speed, big result

By Blue Dog Media

It was an event where an alien, an astronaut and Jesus all competed.

Spiderman and The Accountant won the titles and tattoos.

And the success of the 1st Anzac Singlespeed Mountain Bike Championships in Rotorua in April has resulted in donations of $6000 to both the RSA and Kidney Health New Zealand and $3000 to trail development in the Whakarewarewa Forest.

“Of all the numbers from this year’s event, those are the most satisfying,” said Paul Laing, from the Rotorua Singlespeed Society, announcing the donations.

“Everyone involved - from the team who organized it, to the riders and all our brilliant sponsors and partners - made that happen.”

The event began at 5.30AM on Anzac Day with the Society’s traditional ride to the dawn service at Ohinemutu. This year that commemorated the 100th anniversary of the WW1 battle
of Gallipoli, in Turkey, when the Anzac bond was forged.

There were over 100 riders, four times as many as usual.

“They were all sorts, not just singlespeeders, and from kids to oldies,” added Laing. “That included a lot of the Aussies here for the champs who were all blown away by a Rotorua style Anzac Day service and the magnificent venue at Ohinemutu.”

The race was the following day with nearly 200 riders.

“It felt and looked double that during the big game of Bull Rush at the start,” continued Laing, who rode the race, himself. “The crowd was massive at the stream crossing near the end of the course. We could hear the cheering, the whistles and cow bells and dogs barking a long way before we reached it.”

Rotorua’s Carl Jones and Katie O’Neill won the tattoos. The pair are a couple and two of New Zealand’s top cross-country mountain bikers.

“Everyone else was 2nd equal,” said Singlespeed Society president, Gary Sullivan. “It was my best placing at any national champs.”

Wellington’s Jonny Waghorn (Alien) from, Wayne Gedye (NASA astronaut) from Whanganui and Maxime Bruneau (Jesus) from France were best dressed. They shared a ‘Rotorua Experience’ from Agroventures, Let’s Ride, OGO, Polynesian Spa, Raceline Karting and YHA Treks Rotorua.

Duncan Appleton from Whanganui won a one-off Surly bike from Nzo|Ride Central. Auckland’s Bernadette Mark took home a cruiser bike from Ray White Rotorua and Bayfair for ‘favourite woman.’

“It’s the support of local businesses like these plus Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, RotoruaNZ.com, Nduro Events, Nzoactive.com, Rotorua Airport and First Sovereign that make it all possible,” said Laing. “Along with the event team and all our long-time volunteers.”

The Pig and Whistle Historic Pub has been a sponsor and race HQ since 2008. At the prize giving at the pub, Society president, Gary Sullivan from Nzo, described the team as a “bunch of amateurs” - to a barrage of good-natured cheers and banter.

“Most of the work is done in our own time and $15,000 to such worthwhile organisations isn’t bad for a bunch of amateurs,” he clarified. “In this case, it’s also a team with over 100 years, combined, in event organization and promotion in Rotorua.”

Sullivan is a great example of that commitment and passion.

“The official version is that Gaz was made President after missing five consecutive meetings,” said Laing. “That is actually true, but the real story is that his design genius has given life to the event posters, tee-shirts and website since 2008.”

The Championships is run with no overall race director.

“Each person in the committee has their own areas of expertise and responsibility and gets on with it,” said Sullivan. “No one knows everything and it all comes together on the day. Four of us rode in the race which shows how confident we all are in each other.”

One of the committee members is Lance Tavinor. In mid-May the Rotorua mountain biker donated a kidney to his brother, Grant.

“Look, we mainly do this for the love of biking, the entertainment and the enjoyment,” said Laing. “We’re not-for-profit, so when an opportunity to support causes close to our hearts comes up – literally, in this case – we jump at it.”

The event also supported three local community organisations – the Kahukura Rugby Club Under 12s, MIGS Mid Island Gym Sports and the Waikite Valley Scout Group.

The race attracted extensive coverage in New Zealand, Australia and round the world, including a four-page feature in the latest issue of NZ Bike.

“And we were stoked to get the cover of that,” Laing added with a fist pump. “Facebook numbers were way up and a video shot by official race scrutineer, Tak Mutu from Mountain Bike Rotorua, has had over 1.2 million views.”

Auckland will host the New Zealand Championships in 2016. Rotorua will bid to host the 2018 event.

“That is the 10th anniversary of the first one here in Rotorua and we’re already fielding enquiries from Europe, Asia and South America about it.”



Astronaut and Alien © Leigh Ofsoski



Brooke and Jesus © Alan Ofsoski



Jesus at the Stream © Mike Breen