The Commonwealth Youth Games. Heard of it? It was just held in Bendigo and on a great course constructed by John Harvey (with help from Damian Grundy and Justin Lowndes) produced a mens gold medal and a womens bronze for Australia.

Small but very select fields in both the mens and womans events produced some very close racing with punctures and chain beakage changing the places constantly as the race progressed.

Erica Oldfield raced a well judged 4 laps of the 6 km course to finish in 3rd place (despite breaking a chain) 7 minutes behind the winner Nikki Harris (ENG) and Amy Hunt in 2nd place (ENG, +4m20s).

In the mens race (6 laps), Shaun Lewis started off in first place, but was placed in 3rd place at the start of the 2nd lap. Towards the end of the race Shaun took 1st place after a flat tyre caused the current leader to lose almost 2 minutes. The last lap was a real nail bighter with Shaun in the lead but the 2nd placed rider, Clinton Avery (NZ) catching Shaun fast and managed to narrow the lead down to 12 seconds at the race finish.

The final placings were: 1st, Shaun Lewis (AUS) 2nd, Clinton Avery (NZ, +12s) 3rd Ian Field (ENG, +2m35s).

Congratulations to both Shaun and Erica.

This should be all you need to know for the third round of the National Mountain Cross Series in Armidale...

The track is in town on council land, so therefore is insured similar to a skate park. That means the track is now available for the public to ride (practice) at anytime!!! In terms of the actual race weekend here is times of events at this stage:

Saturday: - Track is open all day for unofficial practice, however registration will still be available on site from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Food stalls etc. will also be available on site on the saturday!

Saturday Night: - We have booked an outdoor terrace and the night club at the 'Wicklow Hotel.' Festivities will kick off at 8pm, so you can have a meal while watching a movie on the big screen supplied by Black Phoenix Films. After this, 'kicking on' is advised whether your style be the outdoor terrace or the nightclub! With word that MBUK, Dirt and Earthed 2 are coming to cover the event this may be your chance to get your mugshot in a mag or on film!

Sunday: - Registration and official practice opens at 9:00am!

Official Opening of the track (with the local high profiles etc.) 11:00am!

Racing begins at 12:00 Noon!!

Entry fee is a cool $35 (all dads should definately have this in their pockets) and Day Licenses will be available through New England Mountain Bike Club. For those who dont know there are four categories of racing... Junior, Sport, Elite Men and Women.

For all those huckers out there, there will be a freestyle/jump jam session being held at some stage throughout the afternoon proceedings (most likely to be before the finals). However, in order to enter, you must be registered as racing with an MTBA licence etc.

Get the entry form here. For a map showing the location of the track and the location of the 'Wicklow Hotel' where everyone must be seen on the Saturday Night check out the report from the 3-Chillies MTN X round 2 earlier in the MTBA news section!

David Rugendyke, President New England Mountain Bike Club

Dirt Works Australia have come on board as the naming rights sponsor for Elements MTB Race; the event has been renamed ‘Dirt Works 100km Classic’. Same event, just a different name.

Operating since 1994, Dirt Works Australia offers the racer, enthusiast or casual rider an extensive range of road and MTB equipment, through a large number of brands. Dirt Works are offering prizes for the event from brands including Fox Racing Shox, DT Swiss, Crankbrothers, Ritchey, Source and Hayes.

Netti Cycling Essentials have become an associate sponsor for the event. Prize offerings include Pangea Helmets, SKS Guards and a lucky door prize of a Scott Aspen MTB.

Netti has been owned and operated by the same family since 1948. It is Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of bicycle clothing and helmets.

“ We are very pleased to welcome Dirt Works and Netti on board as sponsors of this event. They share our vision for this style of event and are excited about the future.” Gary Farebrother, the Event Director stated after the sponsors were signed.

Dirt Works 100km Classic, to be held on Sunday 10 April 2005 is an endurance race through the Yengo National Park and private property (St Albans Area). Competitors operate individually or in teams of three, completing either the complete three leaf clover route, or the two-loop route (approx. 50kms). Each loop takes the rider to different territory of the Yengo National Park. The course consists of fire trail, single track and dirt roads.

Competitors will be racing for share in $10,000 in prizes.

More information is available at Dirt Works 100km Classic website - www.maxadventure.com.au/dirtworksclassic

The Shimano 2004 Australian cyclist of the year awards were presented on Friday 26th November at the stunning Darling Harbor in Sydney.

The following mountain bikers got the nod. Full finalist and recipient lists can be seen at the Cycling Australia : http:www.cycling.org.au

Junior Men’s MTB Cyclist of the Year
Shaun Lewis
Lewis is the Cross Country Australian Champion and National Series winner. He finished tenth in the World Championships.

Junior Women’s MTB Cyclist of the Year
Tracey Hannah
National ELITE Champion and a second and two fifth placings in the elite division of the NORBA USA national series.

Male MTB Cyclist of the Year
Sam Hill
In 2004 Hill proved that teenage enthusiasm and talent can overcome the toughest obstacles defeating far more experienced rivals to claim the Australian Downhill Title. At the World Championships he secured the bronze medal and consistent performances throughout the season saw him finish second overall in the World Cup Series.

Female MTB Cyclist of the Year
Lisa Mathison
Mathison lined up as the youngest competitor in the cross country at the Athens Olympic Games but despite giving her rivals a headstart in experience the 19 year old two time junior World Champion more than held her own on the hot, dusty course to finish tenth. She finished 14th overall in the World Cup Series.

Congratulations to all these fine athletes and good luck for the future. To all the MTB athletes that missed out but were nominated, well done and all at MTBA wish you continued good performances.

MTBA has uploaded some important documents concerning mountain biking in Australia's summer heat. It is important that all mountain bikers read the contents and take suitable precautions against being dehydrated. Get the files here: https://www.mtba.org.au/general/policies.asp

Mountain Cross Round 2 – WA

Fix Bikes/ Harley Estate Wines/ Perth Mountain Bike Club/ Three Chillies Farm/ Clict Magazine. The 2nd in a 4 race series event was held 20th & 21st November 2004 at Three Chillies Farm 4X track, Chittering Valley Perth WA.

A searing hot 2 days saw riders come out & test out the track in race conditions for the 1st time ever! Day 1 – practice day allowed most of the field a fair chance to experience what to expect for race day – fierce competition, tough challenging course and hot conditions. The course showed that it could easily take on 4 riders at once, allowing plenty of opportunity for tussling for positions and choices to either go big & land the double or why not land straight into the big berm! Ok only if your name is Sam Hill!

Race day Sunday, hot once again. Race was started with a field of 51 competitors at 10:30am. The 3 mottos produced the fiercely competitive semi-finals round of 8 riders for the Sport & Elite classes and a quarterfinal of 16 riders for the large under 19 class (originally 21 riders). The Elite Men were tight for points with 3 top men all on equal points, each winning their respective 3 mottos. Before the semi & quarterfinals went under way WA Trials group kept us all cool & entertained during the lunch break & allowing a healthy bit of tension to build up over the next 30 minutes.

Under 19 quarter finals eliminated 8 riders straight after lunch, the final four were soon determined for each of the 3 categories. The finals were fast & furious for Sport winner young gun Jarrad Lawrence- normally an XC rider, 2nd Sydney’s very own Matt Holmes – editor of the new international Revolution Magazine, 3rd David Butler, and 4th big fella Carson McDonald. Women’s category saw only 1 competitor well done to Stef Van Amerongen.

Junior winner – Joel Bain – keep an eye out for this guy, 2nd Chayse Pengilly, 3rd David McCallum, 4th Ben Pusey – once again an XC rider! Finally, the one’s we were all waiting for, the amazingly fast final four Elite Men coming home 1st in an inspirational run down Sam Hill, 2nd Dave McLaughlin- all the way from the east coast & now the series leader, 3rd Mark Taylor – showing all his BMX skills and 4th Derek Winch-Buist – ex WA boy coming home from Tassie for the race he sure wasn’t going to miss.

PMBC & Three Chillies Farm would like to say a massive thanks to MTBA & Clict National Mtb Magazine for the opportunity to be part of the 1st ever Australian 4X series! Thanks to everyone that helped out, this event would never have happened with out so many of you getting in there and being a part of it all. Many thanks and well done to all involved.

Cheers Paul Neve

And now something for the east coast of Australia: the newest, biggest, most talked about MTNX track in the country, and in Armidale the education capital of northern NSW of all places.

The support shown by the shire council in putting their faith in a country lad (Dave Rugendyke), their donation of some prime real estate almost in the middle of town and the support of Glen Jacobs in designing the track is a good example of everyone working together for a common good and purpose. More importantly it is textbook example of how local government can understand the needs of the youth in their local community.

Check out some excellent pictures of the course at Farkin (http://www.farkin.net). Travel to Armidale and be part of the next explosion of MTB activity. Download the map that shows where the track is. Get your local council to look at what is happening in rural Australia and get them enthused about the possibilities where you live. Contact MTBA if you need any help.

In 2004 MTBA suffered 2 significant insurance claims, but we have been able to convince our insurance providers that these two events were atypical and as a result we have only suffered a 10% increase in insurance premium. MTBA has also increased our public liability cover from $10m to $20m in line with what a lot of government agencies are now requesting.

And, as you are also probably aware MTBA has recently engaged Tony Scott as full time CEO. The MTBA component of the membership fee has been increased slightly to help provide the funds to fully service this important initiative.

The combination of all these things has resulted in the following fee structure for 2005:

Senior: $80 (plus club fee)
Junior: $60 (plus club fee)
Recreational: $42 (plus club fee if applicable)
CA -> MTBA value add: $36 (plus club fee if applicable)

MTBA has also been concerned about the cost ratio of day permits vs full membership and have resolved to increase club level day permits to $15.

The cost of national level permits remain the same ($15) and participation permits for all activities without a competitive focus or directed towards junior or women specific programs remain as before ($5). The new day permit cost will make a cost ratio of day permit to full member about 5 rather than 7.

The fee for affiliated clubs fee will remain at $110, but MTBA has also tightened up on the definition of what constitutes a club vs a private promoter and the following definition is now used and will be warranted by clubs:

We further warrant that the assets and income of our club will be applied solely for the benefit of its members in the pursuit of mountain biking and no portion shall be distributed directly or indirectly to the members of the club except as bona fide compensation for services rendered or expenses incurred on behalf of the club.

MTBA has increased the cost of private Promoter affiliation to $330. The new fee will be paid when re-affiliation occurs.

This will clearly define how the funds derived by a club will be distributed. We have taken this direction rather than mandating compulsory incorporation which we felt would be an unreasonable impost on smaller clubs.

The updated membership forms are now available at https://www.mtba.org.au/forms/forms.asp

These fees are to begin on December 1.

If MTBA can clarify any of the above with you please do not hesitate to us.

Note that if your internet provider is bigpond you will need to use the mtba@mac.com email address.

The Shimano 2004 Australian cyclist of the year awards will be presented on Friday 26th November in a gala event to be held in Sydney. The following criteria is taken into consideration in weighted order:
Performance at principal world events
Performance at other major international events
Performance at premier domestic level
Consistency of Performances
Ambassadorship for the sport of cycling

The following finalists are listed in alphabetical order for MTB. Full finalist lists can be seen at the Cycling Australia : http:www.cycling.org.au

Junior Men’s MTB Cyclist of the Year
Amiel Cavalier
National Champion, National Series Champion and seventh at the World Championships.
Shaun Lewis
Lewis is the Cross Country Australian Champion and National Series winner. He finished tenth in the World Championships.

Junior Women’s MTB Cyclist of the Year
Tracey Hannah
National ELITE Champion and a second and two fifth placings in the elite division of the NORBA USA national series.
Erica Oldfield
National Champion and 24th at the World Championships.

Male MTB Cyclist of the Year
Sam Hill
In 2004 Hill proved that teenage enthusiasm and talent can overcome the toughest obstacles defeating far more experienced rivals to claim the Australian Downhill Title. At the World Championships he secured the bronze medal and consistent performances throughout the season saw him finish second overall in the World Cup Series.
Nathan Rennie
Three podium finishes and consistent performances saw Rennie finish third overall in the World Cup Downhill Series. At the World Championships he was fifth.
Sid Taberlay
Sid is the 2004 Australian and Oceania Cross Country Champion and finished in the top ten in two of the three World Cup rounds he contested. He was second in the European Cup in Belgium and at the Olympic Games he was 23rd.

Female MTB Cyclist of the Year
Lisa Mathison
Mathison lined up as the youngest competitor in the cross country at the Athens Olympic Games but despite giving her rivals a headstart in experience the 19 year old two time junior World Champion more than held her own on the hot, dusty course to finish tenth. She finished 14th overall in the World Cup Series.
Katrina Miller
Miller claimed vistory in the 4-Cross event at the French World Cup round in Les 2 Alpes and was in the top five two other rounds. She ended the Series ranked fourth overall. At the World Championships in Les Gets, France she finished fifth.

Congratulations to all these fine athletes and good luck at the awards.

Get all the goss on the national MTB series, rules, information about the courses and the events.

Construction of the State Mountain Bike Course at Lysterfield Park - Tender No.6692

Maintaining the health of our parks and reserves, while providing a range of excellent visitor services not only contributes to the environmental health of our state but also to the physical and mental health of all Victorians – Healthy Parks, Healthy People.

Expressions of Interest for this project were previously sought by the Department for Victorian Communities through the advertisement of Expression of Interest document No. DVC 2004 - 38. The Department for Victorian Communities has now engaged Parks Victoria to project manage the tendering and construction phases of the proposed works. Due to an inadequate response to the original Expression of Interest process, the Department for Victorian Communities has now decided to re- advertise, and move to an open tender process. All parties who previously expressed interest in the project are invited to Tender.

Parks Victoria on behalf of the Office of Commonwealth Games Co-ordination is seeking tenders from suitably qualified organisations to provide construction services to deliver a world class Mountain Bike Course at Lysterfield Park for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and for future Mountain Bike competitions. The track will be approximately 6.5km in length, and the works involve moderate earthworks for track formation and drainage, and extensive landscaping type works to provide the technical features.

Tender documents may be obtained from Mr. Len Purton by calling the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963. Documents are available for inspection at the address below, prior to purchase, as the $50 document fee is non-refundable. Office hours are 8:30am - 5:30pm.

Respondents are to lodge their Tender responses marked CONFIDENTIAL, Tender No.6692 - Construction of the State Mountain Bike Course at Lysterfield Park, by 2: 00pm Wednesday 8 December 2004 in the Tender Box located at Parks Victoria, Level 10, 535 Bourke St, Melbourne, Vic. 3000.

The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. Parks Victoria is an Equal Opportunity employer.