2014 Merida Copeton 6 Hour - New venue – New Course

Post date: Feb 9, 2014 11:19:00 AM

The Harris Trio

The Inverell crew have put in some hard yards this year by adding around 6 km of new track so that they could move the race transition to the main park facilities instead of the well-loved but aging Scout Camp. The new area boasts lots of green grass, a café, playground, BBQ facilities, picnic tables, an outside shower, a jumping pillow and a run through spray park, so one incredibly family friendly location.

A significant number of entrants seemed to make a good weekend of it arriving Friday afternoon to camp or stay in the cabins. By midmorning Saturday the transition area wash awash with marquees and bikes. It was another warmish Copeton day so all the kids were having a ball in the spray park.

A total of 110 riders made the journey to the Copeton Wespac Rescue Helicopter event. The race kicked off at 12pm with the solo, teams of 2 & 3 heading out for their first 13km lap. Mick Harris, teaming up with his old man and national champion sister Holly, lead out the pack and opened up a 30 second leap when reaching transition. The Harris trio were going to be a force to be reckoned with. The only other team to get close was a men’s pair from Inverell. Mick Harris had a very shaky second lap with a flat tyre but luckily for him the other competing pair broke a chain and didn’t have a quick link, so the lead didn’t change.

The day warmed up nicely into the mid 30’s. This meant that drinking was going to be the key to keeping those legs spinning. Before long the spray park was being visited by tall people in lycra in an attempt to beat the heat. The outside shower also received a bit of a flogging.

The juniors commenced their race at 3pm using a shorter 2.5 km loop so as to keep them closer to home in the stifling heat.

The Harris trio never lost the control of the main race after Mick lead them out at the start and Dave and Holly Harris out the fastest male and female laps.

The Chisolm boys, Nick and Josh, took out the Juniors 3 hour event with Emily Wooster and Katherine Hosking taking second place. Peter Harris taking on the solo category was one lap short of the podium on seven laps. Scotty Fiddler took out the most spectacular cramp in transition award and apparently stitched up the “on track” category as well.

Well done to the Inverell team who have really amped up this event with an amazing family friendly transition and extended loop that could be ridden by all mountain bikers. I expect to see this event to grow considerable in 2015!

So now that we’ve all remembered how much fun team events are get your entries in for the 2014 UNE 12 Hours In The Piney on in Armidale on the 22 March, www.12hoursinthepiney.com.au .