The only way’s up for downhill riders

MOUNT Buller played host to the Auscycling Downhill National Series last weekend, and Ballarat athletes were part of the action.

Local group Club Mud was represented by about 20 riders, including junior development team member Chloe Matthews, who placed second in the under-15 division race run.

“I was pretty stoked, especially with my times because I wasn’t expecting to do that well,” she said.

“I was beaten by Tilly Boadle who is really good. It’s a very competitive sport which can be very challenging, but it’s lots of fun and you have a good time.

“Now that there is a bigger field for girls, there are more girls to hang out with when you’re competing. It also feels great to have a team that you’re working for, and I like to encourage people to come and see what it’s all about.”

The 1.9-kilometre course at Mount Buller featured challenging steep and slippery terrain with lots of rocks and dust, surrounded by trees to avoid.

Elite male racer Darcy Coutts experienced this as part of the nationals’ top category, which he said was particularly competitive.

“A lot of the top athletes throughout all of Australia go to that event to earn points to travel overseas,” he said.

“We had a good turnout, with some big names, and I had a good weekend. In my race run, I ended up taking four seconds off my qualifying time, pulling a 3:04.4, which put me in seventh place.

“I grew up racing for Club Mud when there was no one there my age that I could ride with, so to be there on the weekend, to see the development and the young kids coming through from Ballarat and giving it a red hot crack was great.”

The next stage in the Victorian Downhill Series takes place this weekend at Mount Beauty.