Ben Bradley
HOBART mountain bike rider Ben Bradley won his fourth national jersey, taking out the men's under-19 cross-country race yesterday at the 2013 national championships being held in Canberra.
Bradley dominated his age group with a convincing one minute and 16 second victory over Canberra rider Jack Lavis.
Another Hobart rider, Scott Bowden, was sixth in the same race.
Launceston's Rowena Fry finished a creditable third in the women's elite division.
Victorian Peta Mullens took home the national jersey, completing six laps of the Mount Stromlo course in a time of 1 hour, 29 minutes and 53.3 seconds.
Victorian Jenni King was second in 1:30.54 with Fry third in 1:31.21.
Thirty-year-old Fry, a former Oceania champion, finished second behind King in Adelaide last year.
State mountain bike coach Phil Leslie said Fry was rapt with a podium finish in her first national-level race in more than 12 months.
``She went into the race not expecting great things and just to experience racing back on the dirt and she was happy with her result,'' he said.
The men's elite cross-country race went to South Australian Chris Jongewaard who completed six laps in a fast time of 1:29.53.3, in a close finish from Victoria's Daniel McConnell who was second in 1:30.54.4.
Tasmania's Athens Olympian Syd Taberlay, now based in New South Wales, was third in 1:32.38.
Launceston's Ben Mather finished ninth in 1:37.36.
Tasmania had three representatives in the elite men's under-23 race with Launceston's Stephen Matthews the best with a seventh-place in a strong and competitive field.
Hadspen's Tom Goddard unfortunately suffered a mechanical failure dropping his chain and failed to finish. Launceston's Brendan Adair was 20th.
