Mud larks
Air Force comes second at first ADF mountain bike championship

CPL Adrian Kelly shows his riding ability on the technical Switch Back section of the Mont 24-hour Endurance Challenge by executing an impressive bunny hop off a slight rise on the track.

Photo by LS Kelvin Hockey

AIR Force’s mountain bike team has come second in the inaugural Inter-Service Endurance Mountain Bike (MTB) Championship, riding through rain, wind and mud.

Held in Kowen Forest outside Canberra on Saturday and Sunday October 8 and 9, the championship, organised by the ADF Cycling Club, was run as part of the annual Mont Australian 24-hour MTB championship, attended by 2445 riders.

During the 24-hour race, competitors battled rain, sleet and near-freezing temperatures at night over a gruelling19.3km course, which twisted its way through the forest along tracks and fire trails.

Of the 170 Defence personnel who participated, 95 were eligible to take part in the inter-Service titles. Air Force was represented by 37 members, who rode as part of teams from bases and units around Australia.

After the event ended, Army had won the overall inter-Service championship, holding off Air Force, which was 14 seconds behind Army’s average lap speed.

Flight Lieutenant Glenda Preston, of the More Coffee Required team from RAAF Base Williamtown, who came second to Lieutenant Commander Kate Miller as the ADF female endurance MTB champion, was named the inaugural Air Force female endurance MTB champion for her three-lap (58km) effort.

This was the first 24-hour race Flight Lieutenant Preston had competed in after only taking up mountain bike riding five months ago with encouragement from her team mates.

“The biggest thing for me to deal with was the night riding,” she said.

“I had never ridden a mountain bike at night until a month before the event. I can’t say I enjoyed my training night rides ...

“I did a night lap around midnight on Saturday and it started to rain. With so much traffic on the track, it quickly turned to sticky, thick mud.

“I finished my lap completely covered in mud and truly had a great time, but if I don’t have to ride through mud that thick and sticky again, I’ll be happy.”

Flight Lieutenant Preston, who has entered another MTB endurance event, the Highland Fling, said she would definitely ride in the Mont next year.

“It will be good to see a few more girls out there next year,” she said.

Sergeant Mick Rand, of the Our Dodging Little Team from RAAF Base Williamtown, won the title of Air Force male endurance MTB champion after riding six laps (117km).

Sapper Matthew Jeffery, from Army, won the ADF male endurance MTB champion.

Another Air Force team, the Flaming Gerbils from RAAF Base Williamtown, comprising Warrant Officer Terry Withers, Wing Commander Graham Edwards, Squadron Leader Dick Haines, Clint Van Dorssen, Peter Laughlan and Jace Wild, came third in the male six-person over-40 team category.

Flying Officer Brendon Mulloy, from the Directorate of Flying Safety, said the course was fast and slightly technical, with some sections heavy with mud.

“Below the switchbacks was a small bridge over what was to prove troubled water,” he said.

“Many a cheer was heard as riders encountered the bridge and missed, only to be swallowed whole by the surrounding puddle.

“This proved so amusing to one group of punters [that] a couch and Esky was moved to the spot so they could settle in for the evening.”

He said that at midnight it began to rain and the fast sections of the course slowed down.

“By dawn, everyone was feeling the pain. Out on the course, some parts of the track were suffering from several thousand laps, huge bogs had opened up and the bridges were still there to contend with.”

Flying Officer Mulloy said many of the solo riders had put teams to shame with their determination and dedication – the solo male winner completed 21 laps and the solo female 18.

The fastest ADF lap of the event was by Captain Ty Domin who recorded a 58 minute lap at more than 20km/h.

Slippery when wet

FOR Corporal Adrian Kelly from the CDF’s Communication Detachment, previous experience in the Mont 24-hour endurance race meant he came prepared for this year.

As part of Team Reagan, named after Nine Network Footy Show identity Reg Reagan, comprising six current and former Air Force members in Defence, he found the going tough in the 2004 event.

“Last year hurt, so I made sure I did more training in the lead-up this year so I didn’t let the guys down,” he said.

“The course wasn’t particularly difficult in terms of skill required but once you get tired and try to go fast, it is easy to make a mistake.

“With the rain we had overnight during the race, it was quite slippery with all the exposed tree roots and quite a few people got close and personal with the ground.”

Corporal Kelly, who rode three laps at an average speed of 17km/h – including a very fast lap of 69 minutes – for Team Reagan, consumed plenty of banana sandwiches, potatoes and water during the race while he waited for his turn.

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