MTB

Daniel Jones and Corrinne Smit win special event

By MOTU Trails

“I was taking it a bit easy on the descents. I was thinking, I’m not falling off before China,” Corrinne Smit grinned after winning the women’s 50km ‘Weka Special’ in the Motu Special mountain bike races on Sunday.

Smit heads off to China in just over a week’s time, where she’ll contest several adventure races, including the mighty Wulong Mountain Quest. One of her teammates in China will be Daniel Jones, who won the men’s Weka Special.

“The downhill was a lot of fun,” Jones said. “That was one of the funnest mountain bike races I’ve ever done!”

Jones also reckoned he wasn’t out to take risks so close to China. But Blair, the quad bike rider who led out the riders, said he was hitting 40kph on the farmland and bush descent. “Then I’d have to speed up to about 60 to stay ahead of him.”


Photo © Scottie T Photography

This was the first edition of the Motu Special, held in the high rolling hills behind Motu, midway between Gisborne and Opotiki. Five categories of race spanned distances from 5km to 50km, catering for all ages.

The two waves of children’s races — Tomtit and Kiwi — were held after the longer races had finished, allowing plenty of mum-and-dad support. The spot prizes from Sanitarium also proved popular.
“It’s an awesome event. I’ll definitely be back next year,” said Smit.


Photo © Scottie T Photography

Event director Terry Sheldrake of TMS Sport (Gisborne) was thrilled with the entry response, “In particular the number of families who took up one of the five race options”.

“The feedback we received confirm that the Farmlands Motu Special has the ability to be a future race calendar ‘must-do’ event,” he said.


Photo © Scottie T Photography

“We already have ideas and plans in place as we look towards August 2016. This event certainly has the feeling and scope to be something very special!”

Gisborne rider Jason Lines talked in the same direction. “It was a really good event. I think as word gets out, it’ll be popular [next year].”

The final word is best left to winner Jones. “I think we can all agree on the course — you can definitely feel it afterwards!” Mind you, he did go for a run afterwards.
 

Photo © Scottie T Photography

Results here: http://www.gisbornespecials.co.nz/motu-special-5-mountain-bike-races/