Latrobe City Council hosts Gippsland XC Series round and over 100 students in the Rocky Trail Academy race at Haunted Hills
Rocky Trail Entertainment together with the Gippsland MTB Club and supported by the Latrobe City Council and Destination Gippsland had invited cyclists of all ages to join in the spooky weekend of mountain bike riding and racing at Haunted Hills MTB Park near Morwell on 28 and 29 October 2022.
On the menu had been something for everyone including spooky night rides, pump track racing, the Rocky Trail Academy Schools MTB competition and the Shimano Grand Prix 4-hour endurance event. However, unfortunately only the two marquee events with the schools event on Friday and the Gippsland XC Series Round – the Shimano MTB GP 4 hour – were able to go ahead. With wet weather in the lead up to the weekend, more severe rain cells moved in on the Satruday afternoon, cancelling the Pump Track challenge and night ride.
On the Friday, weather played its part with the rain hitting at about 10:30am. Riders who got their 3 courses complete before the rain were at a big advantage.
Riley Reid (FOX RACING TEAM) from the St Joseph’s Colege was dominant with fastest runs on the 2 gravity tracks and 2nd fastest on the pedal track for a 6:47.2 combined time. The racing action was tight in the Intermediate Boys with only 0.1 seconds separating Joseph Shaw (Beaumaris Secondary College) and Sam McLuckie (Lavalla Catholic College) with finishing times of 7.11.5, and 7:11.6 respectively. Third in the Intermediate Boys was Mitch Moulday from Beaconfield College, who also got fastest time on the pedally FOX course.
For the first time the Rocky Trail Academy welcomed year 5 and 6 kids. Huge kudos to Audrey Graafsma (St Joseph’s Primary), who lined up as the only female student and clocked in a 8:34.4, getting 2nd overall to Kody Lewis (Newhaven College) with 8:14.0.
The Beaumaris Secondary College won the inaugural Gippsland Champion School in 2022. Teacher Mr Deneys said, “We love the format. Kids are starved for racing and we are looking forward to the next RockyTrail Academy already!”
Gippsland XC Series continues: Shimano MTB GP 4 hour at Haunted Hills
Murray Spink from Melbourne and Angus Neave from nearby Newry certainly put on a show on the Saturday. The two endurance athletes had matching laps and kept swapping positions for an impressive 12 laps before Murray’s experience payed off on the last climb to take the win by just 21seconds.
Murray who has been focusing on Masters Road racing was impressed with the 19-year old youngster. The two riders worked together for 11 and a half laps waiting for each other when falls or minor mechanicals looked to be the difference. It was all about the racing. Such an awesome display of the #rockytrailracer spirit that Rocky Trail Entertainment was founded almost 15 year s ago.
In the women’s, Kate Kellett continued to dominate the Shimano MTB GP spring carnival in VIC: 10 laps and 6th overall. Kate loves the format and will be at the AusCycling 24hr Solo National Championships hosted at Rocky Trail’s Jetblack 24 Hour in December.
Other notable riders: Audrey Graafsma backed up from the Academy to do 5 laps and take fastest Junior White plate. Jamie Weick travelled from QLD to have a crack at the Victorians and got a 4th in the very hot 40-49 category. Brett Kellett won 50-59 category and was 3rd in the GC. Took the polka dot plate.
Rocky Trail’s cross-country event line-up in Gippsland will finish at the Prom Coast on 26 November with a 4-hour at Whipstick Gully Natural Features Reserve in Foster. For dates and venues, visit rockytrailentertainment.com
Race photos:
Photos from the race are now online on the Outer Image Collective portal! Remember, they are included in your entry, so download them now!
Use #rockytrailracer and #shimanomtbgp so we can follow your race stories!
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RESULTS
Check out detailed results via the link below – don’t forget to download your results and podium certificate! Simply click on your name to see all race times and then select it to download (via the pop-up window).
Detailed results are available via
Please note the secondary menu on the results page, which lets you search for a name, favourite a name/team and also filter results by certain variables like gender, age or classification.
2022 SERIES
For all 2022 venues, dates & event information visit
https://rockytrailentertainment.com/home/calendar-of-events/
Media photos:
Photos may be used for free with image credits “Photo: Rocky Trail/OuterImage.com.au” for coverage of Rocky Trail events only. For more information, interview opportunities or high-res images for news coverage, please contact our Marketing Director Juliane Wisata on 0416 737 972 or via email juliane@rockytrailentertainment.com
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