Southern Peaks mountain bike festival returns with a bang in the Great Southern

Almost 200 riders took part in the gruelling XCM race which kicked off the Southern Peaks mountain bike festival in Albany at the weekend. Southern Peaks returned this year after it cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020. Competitors in the XCM event, part of the State series, tackled 17km, 39km or 52km courses. The two longer races began at the Old Marron Farm and took in a spectacular coastal backdrop in the Gull Rock National Park, before crossing the channel to Emu Point. The 17km started at Emu Point and the course continued through narrow bush tracks, gruelling climbs and the hidden highlights of central Albany. The 17km and 39km events finished at Stirling Terrace event village while the 52km ride continued past York Street and up the steep incline and rocky descents of Mt Melville before making their way back down to Stirling Terrace. John Gregg took out overall honours as he did back in 2019, coming across the line in a slick time of 2hr.9min.38secs, also winning his 50-59 male division. Finn Reilly (2:17.31) was second, more than seven minutes behind Gregg, and Brett Dal Pozzo (2:17.51) was just 20 seconds further back in third overall while Stephen McNeilly (2.23.34) and Ryan Willmot (2.27.09) rounded out the top five. Tracey Chapman was the first female across the line in the 52km event with a time of 2:42.54 ahead of Steff Van Amerongen (2:48.05) and Ali Dyson (2:50.27). Reilly (male 15-16), Finley Walker (male 17-18), Stephanie Pegg (female 30-39), Willmot (male 30-39), Chapman (female 40-49), Dal Pozzo (male 40-49), Dyson (female 50-59), David Equid (male 60-69) and Bert Floss (male 70+) were the other category winners in the 52km event. Callum Hunter took out 39k event in 1:46.52 and Brett Reeves (1:57.40) and Reuben van Den Dool (1:58.30) rounded out the podium. Dinah Roecker was the first female to cross the line with a time of 2:18.10 well clear of Sophie Adeline in second. Ben Thomas (male under-15), Vince Bascombe (make 15-16), Corline Le Grange (female 17-18), Liam Schoof (male 17-18), Sophie Adeline (female 19-29), Hunter (male 19-29), Laetisia Mulder (female 30-39), Nick Walls (male 30-39), Dora Adeline (3.40.14), Tim Villa (male 40-49), Roecker (female 50-59), Reeves (male 50-59), Dianne Fry (female 60-69) and Adrian Valley (male 60-69) were division winners in the 37km event. In the 17km race Jenna Honey-Smith won the female division ahead of Jane McLean and Laura Archer. Fergus Sandilands was the first male to complete the 17km ahead of Geoff Sandilands and Charlie Hudson. Mali Scally (female under-15), Jett Black (male under-15), Fergus Sandilands (male 15-16), Laura Archer (female 19-29), Katrina Fraser (female 30-39), Dom Croker (male 30-39), Honey-Smith (female 40-49), Glenn Van Der Schaaf (male 40-49), Jane McLean (female 50-59) and Geoff Sandilands (male 50-59) were winners in the 17km race. On Saturday night the jumps competition, which attracted 22 riders, began at Proudlove Parade but had to be cancelled after warm ups due to rain.