Gunnedah made a confident debut as host of round three in the Northern Inland Cross Country Series (NIXCS) last Sunday.
Twenty-five mountain bike riders came to the scenic and technical trail at the end of Dries Avenue for the occasion.
Riders from Gunnedah, Tamworth, Narrabri and Armidale took on the 7.3km loop – previously featured in the Weeks of Speed ride in March – navigating a mix of rock gardens, loose off-camber cobbles, and a few muddy patches.
Dust was off the menu, making for a cleaner ride while there was a wide range of age groups and skill levels.
Recreational and Under-13 riders completed one lap, while Under-19 and Open competitors tackled three. The E-bike and Elite categories pushed riders to complete four laps each, testing endurance and technical ability.
Among the competitors was event organiser Elsie Gretton, who raced in the Open category and described the conditions as “perfect for riding” with cool air and sunshine combining to create an ideal race atmosphere.
There was no shortage of grit on display – tired legs, heavy breathing – and even a flat tyre didn’t dampen the energy at the finish line.
“The camaraderie and community spirit were just as strong as the competition,” Elsie said.
Many of the riders had already taken part in earlier rounds at Armidale (June 1) and Inverell (July 13). Next is round four at Mt Borah (Manilla) on September 21, followed by the grand finale in Tamworth on October 26.
Boggabri Coal and Whitehaven Coal were thanked for their support.
Elsie also gave a shout-out to the Gunnedah MTB Club members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly – from trail clearing and setup, to marking arrows, marshalling, and packing down.
“Their efforts created a professional and welcoming race environment that riders truly appreciated,” she said.
Garry Astill of Narrabri.
