World Champion stays one lap ahead to hold onto green and gold jersey
Image 1 of 53
The Men's podium, L to R, Brett Bellchambers (4th and 1st Singlespeed), Andy Fellows (2nd), Jason English (Australian Champion), Scott Chancellor (3rd), Ed McDonald (5th and 2nd Singlespeed)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Karen Taylor (21st)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Solo Singlespeed winner, and 4th overall, Brett Bellchambers(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Meaghan Binder topping up in the feed zone on Sunday morning(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Garry James (11th overall and winner of the 45-49 category) in the feed area on Sunday morning.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Peter Johnson (37th)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Steve Timbrell (49th)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Single Speed rider Phillip Byron (7th in single speed) gets his photo taken by Australian Under 15 XC Champion Zoe Binder.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Taylor Charlton was the impressive winner of the 12 hour (7+5) category for Under 18 riders. His 23 laps in 12 hours was exactly half of the 24 hour men's winner Jason English's 46.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Shawn Sabre (34th) early on Sunday morning(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Monica Skjerve (20th)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jess Douglas with the end (and victory) in sight.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Kevin Wells comes throught he pines on the final lap of the race on Sunday.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Amanda Sanderson on her last lap in the 7+5 category(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The Women's podium, L to R, Jacqui Kennett (4th), Claire Graydon (2nd) Jess Douglas (Australian Champion), Bec Parkes, (3rd and 1st Singlespeed), Belinda Porter (5th)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Finished ! The race is a personal challenge for many.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The memorial armbands for James Williamson(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Winner Jason English (centre) with his Wife and pit crew Jennii, gets some treatment after the race while chatting with Dan Mackay, 2nd in 2009, after returning from hospital with his broken collarbone.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jason McAvoy, 2nd in the world in his age-group on two occasions, had to be content with 2nd in the Australian Championships to Brett Bellchambers.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The Singlespeed riders display a useful feature on their bikes.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Women's winner Jess Douglas gets a bit of rest before the presentations.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Claire Graydon (2nd) being congratulated at the finish.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dave McGregorm 64th overall and winner of the Male 60+ category(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Claire Graydon, 2nd in Open Women.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Andy Fellows, 3rd at the 2009 World Championships, rides his last lap into 2nd place.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Gotta get me one of those number plates.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Ivan Chan (85th)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jess Douglas (1st) in the fairy lights(Image credit: Russell Baker)
It was a family weekend for Meaghan Binder (16th) and husband Ben (75th), with their 3 children and parents all there to provide support.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Previous Australian and World competitor Melinda Behrens put the bike away this Easter to support Jacqui Kennett (4th)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Women's winner Jess Douglas(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dan Mackay made his traditional slow start, but a broken collarbone overnight prevented the much anticipated re-match of the 2009 race when Dan and Jason English were only 2 minutes apart at the end.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
True Swain leading Brett Bellchambers (4th overall and 1st Single Speed)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Andrew Bell(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jason English (1st) leads Andy Fellows (2nd) and Scott Chancellor (3rd) through the early gloom in the forest. 24 hours later, the order would be the same.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Single Speed riders Brad Mertens and Rob Paksec during the start.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
At the start, Australia's top 24 hour riders lead the field for a rolling lap in memory of James Williamson, from L to R, Jason English, Andy Bell, Dan Mackay, Brett Bellchambers, True Swain.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Reigning Australian and World Solo 24 Hour Champion Jason English before the race(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Tributes to James Williamson, 2006 Australian and 2008 World Solo 24 Hour Champion(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jac Connell (6th)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Merryl King (13th) gets an update from her support crew in the pits.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Tim Grover (46th)(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Trippin' the light fantastic(Image credit: Russell Baker)
At the other end of the feed zone, riders top up before heading back into the pine forest(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The helpers in the feed zone get ready for a long night, with some light rain falling.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The finsh arch at night(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Joel Donney (2008 World U25 Champion) was also a DNF this year.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Dan Mackay (2nd to Jason English in 2009) gets a helping hand in the pits from Sarah, but a broken collarbone put and end to his race a few hours later.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Jess Douglas' night bike ready and waiting in the pits.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Anne Antrecht rode stronlgy early in the race until a fall and some stitches caused a DNF.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
The strain starts to show on the face of Jason English (1st) during a pit stop.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
John Blankenstein's race finished earlyon Sunday morning this year.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
Removing those last few grams before race start.(Image credit: Russell Baker)
World champion Jason English from Port Macquarie and Victorian Jessica Douglas claimed back-to-back victories at the Australian Solo 24-hour Mountain Bike Championship in Canberra. The race was one of the major Australian qualifying events for the 2010 24-hour Solo World Championship to be staged in Canberra in October.
173 competitors assembled on the start line at Majura Pines. They faced a nine-kilometer course, renown for being hilly and technical. Riders amassed more than 400 kilometres over the 24 hours.
As a mark of respect to one of Australia's most successful mountain bike riders James Williamson, who tragically passed away in South Africa while participating in the Cape Epic on March 23, the race was held over 23 hours and 59 minutes.
A minute's silence was observed before the riders, who wore black armbands, completed a slow roll out lap in honour of their friend and fellow rider.
A Canberra local, Williamson, 26, was a national solo 24hr champion, world solo 24hr champion and was the editor of the Australian Enduro mountain bike magazine.
English makes it three national titles in a row
Completing 46 laps, English claimed his third national 24-hour crown in a row.
"Its fantastic to win three in a row," said English after the race. "It's awesome. Its my 10th win in a row in a 24-hour event."
As expected, the men's race was wide open in the opening couple of hours. John Blankenstein made a charge, however this was quickly chased down by underdog singlespeeder Brett Bellchambers, who looked very strong for the first six hours.
On lap three, English gained the lead again, and then consolidated that lead on lap 13, opening up his first real gap.
"The only move I made was to try and catch Brett," said English. "So that happened eventually in traffic, and he fell back into the main group. I had a bit of a lead, so I capitalised on that and expanded on my lead during the early hours of the night."
English held on out the front of the field, however positions in the chase group changed on a number of occasions throughout the night.
With three hours to go Andrew Fellows put his foot on the gas producing a swift 30:02 on lap 40. English counterattacked immediately, responding with an extremely fast 27:30, taking nearly seven minutes off his fastest lap time.
"It was probably a very silly thing do with those kays in my legs. I think I was going to suffer afterwards. I was a dribbling mess by the end of that fast lap."
At the end of time, Fellows finished in second position, one lap behind English, followed by Scott Chancellor in third, both men completing 45 laps each.
English will now turn his attention to the World Championships on home soil in Canberra in six months as he attempts to defend his world title.
"I just want to see an Australian win, that's the goal I have.
"It's important not to get sucked in by the faster US-based riders who like to charge off and go too hard. The Australians have the patience and can sit back and bring it home strong."
Douglas dominates women's race
In the women's race, Jessica Douglas opened strongly and didn't relinquish her lead for the entire race, comfortably completing 38 laps to defeat Claire Graydon (37 laps) and Rebecca Parkes (36 laps), who played out a great battle for second place.
"I'm very pleased to have it all over and done with," said Douglas, who finshed fourth at last year's World Championships. "I only been back in training for four weeks. I was just relying on previous 24-hour form and a hell of a lot of base."
"I had a minute gap and it just grew from there.
"My body didn't want to play from midnight until 6:00 am. It was 90 percent mental. I definitely overrode my survival instincts on my body."
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men's Open
1
Jason English
46
laps
2
Andrew Fellows
45
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Scott Chancellor
45
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Brett Bellchambers (SS)
44
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Edward McDonald (SS)
43
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Shane Taylor
41
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
Jason McAvoy
41
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Andrew Hall
41
Row 7 - Cell 3
9
Benjamin Hallowell
40
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
John Clews
39
Row 9 - Cell 3
11
Garry James
39
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Richard Peil
39
Row 11 - Cell 3
13
David Speering (SS)
38
Row 12 - Cell 3
14
Jeff Rooney
37
Row 13 - Cell 3
15
Dean Jones
37
Row 14 - Cell 3
16
Matthew Reekie
37
Row 15 - Cell 3
17
Craig Honeybrook
37
Row 16 - Cell 3
18
Matthew Griggs
37
Row 17 - Cell 3
19
John Evans
37
Row 18 - Cell 3
20
Kevin Wells
36
Row 19 - Cell 3
21
Michael Hernan
36
Row 20 - Cell 3
22
Andrew Clark
35
Row 21 - Cell 3
23
Ross Cairns
35
Row 22 - Cell 3
24
Aaron Thomson
35
Row 23 - Cell 3
25
Brad Hawthorne
35
Row 24 - Cell 3
26
Matt Hand
35
Row 25 - Cell 3
27
Joe Avery
35
Row 26 - Cell 3
28
Phil Welch
35
Row 27 - Cell 3
29
James Lamb
35
Row 28 - Cell 3
30
Jason Dreggs
34
Row 29 - Cell 3
31
David McDonald
34
Row 30 - Cell 3
32
Deon Revet
34
Row 31 - Cell 3
33
Warrick Hancock
34
Row 32 - Cell 3
34
Shawn Sabre
34
Row 33 - Cell 3
35
Benjamin Culton
34
Row 34 - Cell 3
36
Samuel Warmington (SS)
34
Row 35 - Cell 3
37
Peter Johnson
34
Row 36 - Cell 3
38
Geoff Gilchrist
33
Row 37 - Cell 3
39
Phillip Banks (SS)
33
Row 38 - Cell 3
40
Cang Nguyen
33
Row 39 - Cell 3
41
David Eccles
33
Row 40 - Cell 3
42
Andre Quaglio (SS)
33
Row 41 - Cell 3
43
Trevor Fairhurst
32
Row 42 - Cell 3
44
Clayton Locke
32
Row 43 - Cell 3
45
Darren Groves
32
Row 44 - Cell 3
46
Timothy Grover
32
Row 45 - Cell 3
47
Benjamin Bruce
32
Row 46 - Cell 3
48
Phillip Byron (SS)
32
Row 47 - Cell 3
49
Steven Timbrell
32
Row 48 - Cell 3
50
Mark Mollenhagen
31
Row 49 - Cell 3
51
Mark Caulfield
31
Row 50 - Cell 3
52
Chris St Jack
31
Row 51 - Cell 3
53
Duncan Miller
31
Row 52 - Cell 3
54
Cameron Dalton
31
Row 53 - Cell 3
55
Rob Paksec (SS)
30
Row 54 - Cell 3
56
Grantley Butterfield
30
Row 55 - Cell 3
57
Mark Feeney
30
Row 56 - Cell 3
58
Trevor Creighton (SS)
30
Row 57 - Cell 3
59
David Milne (SS)
30
Row 58 - Cell 3
60
James Eldridge
30
Row 59 - Cell 3
61
Brenden Hargraves
29
Row 60 - Cell 3
62
Jason "The" Head
29
Row 61 - Cell 3
63
Andrew Remely
29
Row 62 - Cell 3
64
Dave McGregor
29
Row 63 - Cell 3
65
Angelo De Maria
29
Row 64 - Cell 3
66
Stewart McKenzie
29
Row 65 - Cell 3
67
Jon Odams
29
Row 66 - Cell 3
68
Evan Sheppard
28
Row 67 - Cell 3
69
Craig Dunlop (SS)
28
Row 68 - Cell 3
70
Steve Woodward (SS)
28
Row 69 - Cell 3
71
Martin Wisata
27
Row 70 - Cell 3
72
Toby Hartley
27
Row 71 - Cell 3
73
Darren Sattler
27
Row 72 - Cell 3
74
Jody Musgrove
26
Row 73 - Cell 3
75
Ben Binder
26
Row 74 - Cell 3
76
Joshua Taylor
26
Row 75 - Cell 3
77
Timothy Aust
26
Row 76 - Cell 3
78
Brad Poidevin
26
Row 77 - Cell 3
79
Andrew Chamberlain
26
Row 78 - Cell 3
80
Matthew Madin
25
Row 79 - Cell 3
81
Robert Bishop (SS)
25
Row 80 - Cell 3
82
Andrew Handyside
25
Row 81 - Cell 3
83
Richard Ferris
25
Row 82 - Cell 3
84
Dan McNamara
25
Row 83 - Cell 3
85
Ivan Chan
24
Row 84 - Cell 3
86
Tony Rowley
24
Row 85 - Cell 3
87
Robbie Morris
24
Row 86 - Cell 3
88
Matt Turner
24
Row 87 - Cell 3
89
Andrew Beddie
24
Row 88 - Cell 3
90
Kevin Skidmore
23
Row 89 - Cell 3
91
Peter Saw
23
Row 90 - Cell 3
92
Lloyd Newell
23
Row 91 - Cell 3
93
Geoff Moon
21
Row 92 - Cell 3
94
Stephen Jackson
20
Row 93 - Cell 3
95
Brian Merton
20
Row 94 - Cell 3
96
John Styles
20
Row 95 - Cell 3
97
Warren Willson
20
Row 96 - Cell 3
98
Brad Mertens (SS)
20
Row 97 - Cell 3
99
Ken Schack-Evans
20
Row 98 - Cell 3
100
Hieu Nguyen
19
Row 99 - Cell 3
101
Arran Pearson
18
Row 100 - Cell 3
102
Scott Walker
18
Row 101 - Cell 3
103
John Dietz
17
Row 102 - Cell 3
104
Colin Littleton
17
Row 103 - Cell 3
105
David Feeney
17
Row 104 - Cell 3
106
Jason Harrod
16
Row 105 - Cell 3
107
Nick Mostyn
15
Row 106 - Cell 3
108
Carl Sommerville
13
Row 107 - Cell 3
109
Scott Abercrombie (SS)
13
Row 108 - Cell 3
110
Mike Brennan
13
Row 109 - Cell 3
DNF
John Blankenstein
Row 110 - Cell 2
Row 110 - Cell 3
DNF
Andrew Bell
Row 111 - Cell 2
Row 111 - Cell 3
DNF
True Swain
Row 112 - Cell 2
Row 112 - Cell 3
DNF
Joel Donney
Row 113 - Cell 2
Row 113 - Cell 3
DNF
David Power (SS)
Row 114 - Cell 2
Row 114 - Cell 3
DNF
Dan Mackay
Row 115 - Cell 2
Row 115 - Cell 3
DNF
Francis Le Brun
Row 116 - Cell 2
Row 116 - Cell 3
DNF
Neil Dall
Row 117 - Cell 2
Row 117 - Cell 3
DNF
Brendan Den (SS)
Row 118 - Cell 2
Row 118 - Cell 3
DNF
Dirk Riding
Row 119 - Cell 2
Row 119 - Cell 3
DNF
Michael Culhane
Row 120 - Cell 2
Row 120 - Cell 3
DNF
Adrian Jones
Row 121 - Cell 2
Row 121 - Cell 3
DNS
Tony Bond
Row 122 - Cell 2
Row 122 - Cell 3
DNS
Timothy Cafe
Row 123 - Cell 2
Row 123 - Cell 3
DNS
Dean Pattenden
Row 124 - Cell 2
Row 124 - Cell 3
DNS
Robbie Verity
Row 125 - Cell 2
Row 125 - Cell 3
DNS
Corey Werfel
Row 126 - Cell 2
Row 126 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women's Open
1
Jessica Douglas
38
laps
2
Claire Graydon
37
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Bec Parkes (SS)
36
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Jacqui Kennett
33
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Belinda Porter
32
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Jac Connell
32
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
Claire Stevens
32
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Diane Perry
31
Row 7 - Cell 3
9
Anne Napier
30
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
Yolande Joubert
29
Row 9 - Cell 3
11
Marea England
29
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Erin Zimmer (SS)
26
Row 11 - Cell 3
13
Merryl King
26
Row 12 - Cell 3
14
Kris Nicholls (SS)
25
Row 13 - Cell 3
15
Philippa Rostan (SS)
24
Row 14 - Cell 3
16
Meaghan Binder
24
Row 15 - Cell 3
17
Kirsty Cummin
22
Row 16 - Cell 3
18
Kathleen Kingwill
21
Row 17 - Cell 3
19
Julie Bassett
16
Row 18 - Cell 3
20
Monica Skjerve
14
Row 19 - Cell 3
21
Karen Taylor
13
Row 20 - Cell 3
22
Susan Webber
12
Row 21 - Cell 3
DNF
Anne Antrecht
Row 22 - Cell 2
Row 22 - Cell 3
DNF
Kathryn Stolarski
Row 23 - Cell 2
Row 23 - Cell 3
DNF
Sue Thompson
Row 24 - Cell 2
Row 24 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men's 6 + 6
1
Mark Tupalski
26
laps
2
Taylor Charlton
23
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Thomas Power
22
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Andrew Johnson
22
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Joseph Arrouk
20
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Chris White
20
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
James Ross
19
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Ross Hamilton
19
Row 7 - Cell 3
9
Peter Feain
19
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
Cameron Rybinski
18
Row 9 - Cell 3
11
Harry Herne
18
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Patrick Wark
15
Row 11 - Cell 3
DNF
Dylan Cooper
Row 12 - Cell 2
Row 12 - Cell 3
DNF
Peter Hatton
Row 13 - Cell 2
Row 13 - Cell 3
DNF
Craig Armour
Row 14 - Cell 2
Row 14 - Cell 3
DNF
Nick Menager
Row 15 - Cell 2
Row 15 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women's 6 + 6
1
Vanina Vergoz
21
laps
2
Amanda Sanderson
20
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Ann Holden
19
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Kath Bicknell
13
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Juliane Wisata
11
Row 4 - Cell 3
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