Sawyer flies to victory in urban event

Teenager Jaxon Sawyer has been crowned the Urban Downhill champion after winning Sunday’s highly competitive race as part of the Southern Peaks spectacular in Albany.

Across three categories, 80 riders took part in the downhill.

Sawyer, who lives in Bunbury, finished the course more than two seconds faster than Albany’s Corben Weinert.

Under-19 winner Charlie Howard held the hot seat as the quickest rider for a long time before Albany’s Bobby Cooper knocked him off.

Aaron Leagas snared the lead from Cooper, beating his time by four seconds to be in pole position after completing the course in a time of 2min.40.6sec.

Sawyer flew down the course in his race run, stopping the clock in a time of 2:34.73 to knock Leagas off the top spot.

With two riders remaining, Weinert tried everything he could grab first place but fell two seconds short.

Favourite for the event and 2016 winner Jordan Prochyra was the quickest qualifier and was last to come down in the run race.

He was unable to replicate his qualifying run and finished fourth in a time of 2:44.23.

Sawyer said it was a real privilege to win such a big event.

“It’s an awesome feeling, one of the biggest events on the west coast, so it means a lot to win,” the 18-year-old said.

“It’s a pretty cool event with it being televised and such big sponsors.

“The track was pretty loose, there was some sick features and I nearly came off a few times.

“I came back from worlds and my bike was pretty busted so I will use the money to fix my bike.”

Sawyer said he would come back and defend his crown.

“I do a lot of travelling so if it fits in with my schedule and I get the opportunity I will be back,” he said.

Howard won the under-19 male category with a time of 2:45.60 ahead of locals Aden Castlehow (2:51.09) and Lachlan Wilkes (2:56.20).

In the junior male category Gus Kyme won in a slick time of 2:46.90 ahead of local Hamish Wilkes (2:47.65) and Ronan Stoner (2:58.71). Earlier in the day the Kids’ Urban was a huge success, with 80 children taking part.

Taashi Dingey won in the under-13 male category, while Abby O’Donnell was the quickest under-13 female.

Lorcan Contier and Zoe Bascombe were the quickest riders in the under-11 male and female category respectively.

Harri Ransford was five minutes quicker than his next competitor to win the under-nine male category, while Sage Dingey was the fastest female in that age group.

Mackenzie Stables was the fastest male while Leila Grobbler was the first female rider across the line in the under-sevens.