The Riccarton Downhill riders ready to race: Jacob Down, Sam Weir, Bradley Watson and Ryan Smith. by Andrea Weir

South Island Secondary Schools Mountain Biking Championships 2019

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Over the weekend of 29th-31st March, around 400 of the best mountain bike riders from South Island High schools gathered at Mt Hutt for a weekend of racing. Riccarton High had 5 students competing over the three events of Enduro, Downhill (DH) and Cross Country (XC).

All our riders did a great job at completing their events, which in itself is a great achievement. There were thrills and spills across all age groups and great personal bests. Ryan Smith and Jacob Down got a bit too close for comfort to a tree on the DH course, but bravely carried on. Sam Weir managed to secure 9th place in the DH despite puncturing a tyre. He also placed 5th in the Enduro and 7th for points over all in his Boys U17 category. Bradley Watson completed a smooth and stylish DH race. Eli Sergue joined them for the Enduro and a blast around the 16km hilly and sometimes technical XC course.

In between runs there was plenty of banter about the best lines to take, whether to gap the jump or take the chicken line, how to not case the jump or wipe out, who got the most air and whose bike is the most dialled! A lot of fun with mint weather and gnarly track conditions.