Bite the dust
Volume 11, No. 55, November 02, 2006
By Maj Andrew Cassie

Gutsy effort: Sgt Roger Derrick achieved 11th in the over-40 category in only his second MTB Endurance Championship attempt.Photo by LAC Andrew Broadhead

IT WASN’T just the Army competitors’ bodies that were forced to contend with the hot, dry and dusty conditions at this year’s 24-hour MTB Championships in Canberra, so too did their dreams.

Army tried tenaciously to defend the crown it had won at the inaugural Defence MTB Endurance Championships last year, but those dreams bit the dust when the podium placings left Army third to Navy and Air Force.

Navy produced a concerted and consistent team effort over a gruelling 24 hours of riding to win their first championship, with victorious team members coming from as far as HMA Ships Stirling and Cairns.

Air Force had the largest Defence team, with members also coming from many parts of Australia.

This year Army was represented by the smallest Service team, which included five solo riders who battled for more than 24 hours against their Service opponents and 206 other solo riders, enough dust to blot the sun and a thirst to match in the dry Kowen Forest at Canberra.

After the dust had settled, there was some good news for Army cyclists, with the Defence men’s and women’s MTB Endurance Champions coming from Army.

Spr Matt Jeffery (IRR) and Capt Cath Kelaher (a Canberra doctor who is off to Darwin next year) completed 17 laps (340km) and seven laps (140km) respectively to convincingly beat their nearest Navy and Air Force rivals.

They were AB Steven McDonald (CDT) with 10 laps and Flt-Lt Glenda Preston (RAAF Williamtown) with four.

A special mention must be made of the fantastic effort of Sgt Roger Derrick (DFR Woden) who completed 12 laps for a creditable 11th in the over-40 solo category in what was his second MTB attempt.

More details of ADF Mountain Biking and a full spreadsheet of results are available at www.adfcc.asn.au