Nelson threw all it could weather wise at the New Zealand Mountain Bike Cup competitors this weekend, but it wasn't enough to dampen some extremely close competition in the South Island Mountain Bike Cup Finals.
Lap numbers for the multi-lap races had to be adjusted due to the conditions to suit the multi-lap format. Some drying did take place in time for the 2:00 pm elite / under 23 / under 19 race start, but technical riding prowess was nonetheless rewarded. Attrition played its part, but it couldn't detract from the high level of competition on display.
Bennett got clear from the start of the five-lap race and had built up a lead of 40 seconds over current New Zealand National Champion Stu Houltham after the first lap. He kept the pressure on, and Houltham, Carl Jones and Brendon Sharratt all attempted to reel him in to no avail.
Bennett won by an impressive margin of two and a half minutes over the quality field. For Bennett, this victory represented validation of his potential to dominate in the Olympic format of cross country racing, something which has eluded him in New Zealand for several years.
Sheppard's first real smile of the day came as she crossed the finish line after a well deserved race win, with Laird racing herself to a standstill for a battling second.
In the South Island Cup series, which included three rounds, Sharratt took the win as did Laird.
The New Zealand Mountain Bike Cup takes a week's break and will return on February 6-7 for round four with the downhill in Rotorua and the cross country in Tokoroa.
Full Results
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Elite and Under 23 men (* indicates U23)
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
George Bennett*
2:17:33
2
Carl Jones
0:02:31
3
Brendon Sharratt
0:02:45
4
Stuart Houltham
0:05:50
5
Ash Hough
0:09:24
6
Gavin McCarthy
0:12:09
7
Dayle McLauchlan
0:12:44
8
Brent Miller
0:13:45
9
Alexander Revell
0:13:56
10
Jeremy Inglis
0:27:53
11
Michael Frei*
0:34:49
DNF
Adrian Retief*
Row 11 - Cell 2
DNF
Ethan Glover*
Row 12 - Cell 2
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Elite and U23 women (* indicates U23)
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Samara Sheppard*
2:14:55
2
Amy Laird
0:03:33
3
Katherine O Neill
0:08:42
4
Raewyn Morrison
0:10:17
5
Cathy Hamer
0:10:49
6
Sara Taylor
0:16:55
7
Adrienne Hooper*
0:18:54
8
Hannah Thorne
0:21:09
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Under 19 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Richard Anderson
1:48:18
2
Bradley Hudson
0:08:21
3
Locky McArthur
0:09:26
4
Logan Horn
0:11:15
5
Jamie Hawke
0:15:44
6
Sam Shaw
0:18:48
7
George Murray
0:28:46
8
Reece O Connell
0:36:03
DNF
Joel MacMillan
Row 8 - Cell 2
DNF
Dominic Furkert
Row 9 - Cell 2
DNF
Hamish Ross
Row 10 - Cell 2
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Junior Under 17 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Sean Hambrook
1:27:52
2
Craig Oliver
0:01:03
3
Layton Murdoch
0:08:53
4
Jonty Sanders
0:12:34
5
Andrew Jeffries
0:30:04
6
Edward Palmer
0:31:07
7
Jacob Stuthridge
0:32:31
8
Allister Meffen
0:48:16
DNF
Jake Glover
Row 8 - Cell 2
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Junior Under 17 women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Kayley Murdoch
1:20:08
2
Caitlin Holmes
0:05:10
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Senior men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Chris Sharland
1:31:49
2
Lance Griffin
0:14:27
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Senior women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Emma Prestidge
1:39:04
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master 1 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Chris Burr
1:32:57
2
Chris Taylor
0:04:53
3
Matt Amos
0:12:15
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master 1 women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Brenda Clapp
1:10:46
2
Sarah Beadel
0:05:47
3
Melissa Newell
0:08:58
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master 2 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Blair Stuthridge
1:31:40
2
Geoffrey Notman
0:03:03
3
Nick Spoencer
0:03:59
4
Paul McNabb
0:04:48
5
Derek Milne
0:04:54
6
Wade Jennings
0:09:22
7
Andy MacDonald
0:14:03
8
Tim Bygate
0:15:35
9
Ken Anderson
0:22:13
10
Craig Buist
0:28:41
11
Ross Castle
0:36:27
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master 3 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Neil Averis
1:53:13
2
Andrew Scott
0:01:21
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Junior under 15 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Ben Oliver
1:37:49
2
Mitchell Campbell
0:14:41
3
Ethan Jacobs
0:19:55
4
Jordan Castle
0:41:23
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Fastest average lap - all men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Richard Anderson
0:27:04
2
George Bennett
0:00:27
3
Carl Jones
0:00:57
4
Brendon Sharratt
0:01:00
5
Stuart Houltham
0:01:37
6
Bradley Hudson
0:02:06
7
Sean Hambrook
0:02:13
8
Ash Hough
0:02:19
9
Locky McArthur
0:02:22
10
Craig Oliver
0:02:34
11
Logan Horn
0:02:49
12
Gavin McCarthy
0:02:52
13
Dayle McLauchlan
0:02:59
14
Brent Miller
0:03:12
15
Alexander Revell
0:03:14
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Fastest average lap - all women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Samara Sheppard
0:33:44
2
Amy Laird
0:00:53
3
Brenda Clapp
0:01:39
4
Katherine O Neill
0:02:10
5
Raewyn Morrison
0:02:34
6
Cathy Hamer
0:02:42
7
Sara Taylor
0:04:13
8
Sarah Beadel
0:04:33
9
Adrienne Hooper
0:04:43
10
Hannah Thorne
0:05:17
11
Melissa Newell
0:06:08
12
Kayley Murdoch
0:06:20
13
Caitlin Holmes
0:08:55
14
Emma Prestidge
0:15:48
South Island Cup - final standings & New Zealand MTB Cup standings after 3 rounds
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Elite and U23 men (* indicates U23)
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Brendon Sharratt
169
pts
2
Brent Miller
125
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Ethan Glover*
92
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Dayle McLauchlan
78
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Alexander Revell
77
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
George Bennett*
60
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
Carl Jones
54
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Marc Metzler*
49
Row 7 - Cell 3
9
Stuart Houltham
45
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
Oliver Whalley
42
Row 9 - Cell 3
10
Ash Hough
42
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Gavin McCarthy
40
Row 11 - Cell 3
13
Michael Crawford
38
Row 12 - Cell 3
14
Jeremy Inglis
36
Row 13 - Cell 3
15
Michael Frei*
35
Row 14 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Elite and U23 women (* indicates U23)
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Amy Laird
174
pts
2
Samara Sheppard*
149
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Cathy Hamer
135
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Sara Taylor
127
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Hannah Thorne
114
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Adrienne Hooper*
113
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
Sara MacDonald
99
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Harriet Harper
49
Row 7 - Cell 3
8
Katherine O Neill
49
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
Raewyn Morrison
45
Row 9 - Cell 3
11
Bridget Keegan
42
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Erin Greene
40
Row 11 - Cell 3
13
Anja McDonald
38
Row 12 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Junior Under 19 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Bradley Hudson
168
pts
2
Logan Horn
139
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Locky McArthur
103
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Samuel Shaw
85
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Thomas Prestidge
82
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Anton Cooper
60
Row 5 - Cell 3
6
Richard Anderson
60
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Tom Bradshaw
49
Row 7 - Cell 3
9
Joel Macmillan
42
Row 8 - Cell 3
9
Jamie Hawke
42
Row 9 - Cell 3
11
Jordan Pearson
40
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Oli Austin
39
Row 11 - Cell 3
12
George Murray
39
Row 12 - Cell 3
14
Reece O Connell
38
Row 13 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Junior Under 19 women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Charlotte CloustonWaimautu
60
pts
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Junior Under 15 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Ben OliverRangiora
54
pts
2
Mitchell CampbellChristchurch
45
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Charlie MurrayChristchurch
60
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Craig MurrayChristchurch
49
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Ethan JacobsChristchurch
49
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Jordan CastleChristchurch
49
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
Fletcher SlierendrechtNelson
42
Row 6 - Cell 3
7
Lachie McGregorDunedin
42
Row 7 - Cell 3
9
Daniel O BrienChristchurch
40
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
Ben FrielChristchurch
39
Row 9 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Junior Under 15 women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
1
Samantha Hope Dunedin
2
Laura BridgerDunedin
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Junior Under 17 men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Craig OliverRangiora
60
pts
2
Sean HambrookNelson
54
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Jonty SandersWellington
42
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Jacob StuthridgeChristchurch
45
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Jake GloverNelson
49
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Layton MurdochHope
49
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
Andrew JeffriesNelson
49
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Edward PalmerNelson
49
Row 7 - Cell 3
8
Hayden CleminsonDunedin
49
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
Tayia HarrisonChristchurch
40
Row 9 - Cell 3
11
Fraser BrownDunedin
40
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Allister MeffenNelson
40
Row 11 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Junior Under 17 women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Kayley MurdochNelson
60
pts
2
Caitlin HolmesNelson
54
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Mary GrayDunedin
54
Row 2 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Senior men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Lance GriffinChristchurch
49
pts
2
Chris SharlandNelson
49
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Justin LeovDunedin
60
Row 2 - Cell 3
3
Matty GrahamDunedin
60
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Nick KennedyChristchurch
54
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Ben ShalerDunedin
54
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
Cameron ColeChristchurch
45
Row 6 - Cell 3
7
Stephen BlissettSouthland
45
Row 7 - Cell 3
9
Nick ClarkChristchurch
42
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
Paul HusfordChristchurch
40
Row 9 - Cell 3
11
Carl SchugersChristchurch
39
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Ben ThomasChristchurch
38
Row 11 - Cell 3
13
Ashley StapletonChristchurch
37
Row 12 - Cell 3
14
Dayne McKnightRangiora
36
Row 13 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Senior women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Emma PrestidgeTimaru
49
pts
2
Sabrina JonnierFrance
60
Row 1 - Cell 3
2
Sarah HughesDunedin
60
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Celia LieDunedin
60
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Kristie FogartyChristchurch
54
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Madeline TaylorNapier
45
Row 5 - Cell 3
6
Pippa HoldomChristchurch
45
Row 6 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master 30+ men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Chris TaylorChristchurch
60
pts
2
Matt AmosWellington
45
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Chris BurrNelson
45
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Richard HaymanChristchurch
54
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Michael MartinChristchurch
49
Row 4 - Cell 3
5
Ross McCullochChristchurch
49
Row 5 - Cell 3
7
James MarshallChristchurch
42
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Darron CharityChristchurch
40
Row 7 - Cell 3
9
Brent FogartyChristchurch
39
Row 8 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master 30+ women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Melissa NewellChristchurch
60
pts
2
Andrea MurrayChristchurch
54
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Sarah BeadelRotorua
49
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Brenda ClappNelson
49
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Pam ThompsonInvercargill
49
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Jenny LairdNew Plymouth
45
Row 5 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master 40+ men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Blair StuthridgeChristchurch
60
pts
2
Nick SpencerChristchurch
40
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Craig BuistChristchurch
39
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Paul McNabbChristchurch
45
Row 3 - Cell 3
5
Andy MacDonaldNelson
45
Row 4 - Cell 3
6
Geoffrey Notman
45
Row 5 - Cell 3
6
Al KillickChristchurch
54
Row 6 - Cell 3
8
Ray HopeDunedin
54
Row 7 - Cell 3
8
Tim HobanChristchurch
49
Row 8 - Cell 3
10
Derek MilneNelson
49
Row 9 - Cell 3
10
Rob SoothillChristchurch
42
Row 10 - Cell 3
12
Wade JenningsNelson
42
Row 11 - Cell 3
13
Tim BygateNelson
42
Row 12 - Cell 3
13
Stephen GuntherChristchurch
38
Row 13 - Cell 3
15
Ken AndersonBlenheim
38
Row 14 - Cell 3
15
Carlton PezaroChristchurch
37
Row 15 - Cell 3
17
Harry BrouwerChristchurch
36
Row 16 - Cell 3
18
Ross CastleAshurst
36
Row 17 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Master 50+ men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
Header Cell - Column 3
1
Neil AverisChristchurch
60
pts
2
Hamish GrantChristchurch
54
Row 1 - Cell 3
3
Andrew ScottNelson
54
Row 2 - Cell 3
4
Jeff LongChristchurch
49
Row 3 - Cell 3
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Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.