Albany young gun Harper O’Donnell pedals his way to WA Gravity Enduro State Championship in Geraldton

Albany rider Harper O’Donnell has been rewarded for a stellar performance at Echidna Park in Geraldton, pedalling his way to a State title earlier this month. A small group of competitors from Albany and Denmark mountain bike clubs headed north for the WA Gravity Enduro State Championships. The championships are part of the nine-round State series but division winners from the event on July 8-9 rode away with State titles to their name. O’Donnell, 17, was the standout from the Great Southern as he powered his way to victory in the under-19 men category. In a consistent season on his mountain bike, O’Donnell has been a regular on the under-19 podium at State events but was on the top step after a terrific weekend. The under-19s competed in eight timed descent stages, with competitors making their way back to the top of the hills in neutral, un-timed liaisons. After winning five of the eight stages, O’Donnell finished with the lowest cumulative time, more than six seconds clear of his nearest rival. The young Albany rising star was thrilled to get a win at a venue considered by many to be one of the most technical and challenging in the series. It was O’Donnell’s second Gravity Enduro State title, his first one coming in 2018 in the under-13 category and he has also claimed a State Downhill under-15 crown. Albany’s Jess Waldron continued her strong season, finishing runner-up in the women’s full enduro division. Fellow Albany rider Abbey O’Donnell was fourth in the under-17 women’s division and Denmark’s Jy Drummond was sixth in the under-15 men. In the under-17 men Denmark rider Jake Drummond finished 10th and Mt Barker’s Angus Spink was 51st while Albany’s Louis McLean was 17th in the under-15 men. York will host the next round of the WA Gravity Enduro State Series on August 5-6. Albany Mountain Bike Club is busy preparing for the annual Southern Peaks festival on September 23 and 24 and this year the event will include the first ever WA State Pump Track Championships to be held at the Youth Challenge Park on Sandford Road.