New England Mountain Bikers (NEMTB) are hosting their leg of the Mid-North Coast Series of races aptly titled ATTITUDE at ALTITUDE this Sunday, August 26 at the Armidale Pine Forest.
The series is called the GNaTPACK series, which is named after the towns that make up the series. Races are held at Grafton, Nambucca, Taree, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Coffs Harbour and Kempsey. The Armidale race is the seventh and final race of the series, with awards handed out at the presentation after the race. The race will really test the competitors from down on the coast. The air is thinner in Armidale and the track is steeper and more technical than the other tracks used down on the coast in the earlier races.
The Attitude at Altitude race is the second largest event held by NEMTB each year. Only the 12 Hour in March is bigger and better. Around 100 riders are expected on Sunday from all over NSW. The MTB track at the Pine Forest has been improved this year, with extended trails through-out. Added to this are new structures and beams all around the track. The track has increased in overall distance to nearly 12km and is marked with black arrows on wooden posts.
Several local riders are in a strong position to place the series. The 6th and second last race was last week (August 19) at Port Macquarie, after being washed out on August 12 (results were not available in time for press). Here is a summary of the standings after the first five races. Holly Harris (Elite female) and Michael Harris (U15 male) are coming first in their divisions and will be very hard to beat on their home track. Lisa Harris (40-49 female) is coming third in her division and will aim for 2nd or even 1st. The U15 division has been dominated by Armidale riders this season, with Katherine Hosking 1st, Isabella Hosking 2nd, Winona Rumble 3rd and Emily Wooster 4th, taking up all the major placings. Jenny Platts has been riding well this season and finds herself 2nd in the 50+ age group. She should hold on to this position. David Harris has been riding well in the high-class Men’s Elite division. He is currently 5th, but he should be able to sneak onto the podium for a place by the series end. NEMTB member Casuarina Cooper-O’Brien has won every race in the U17 division and can be assured of a win.
There will be a race precinct set up under the powerlines in the southeast section of the Pine Forest. Access is via the second gate going south on Pine Forest road. Riders of all abilities are invited to compete. The cost to enter is $20 for adults and $10 for riders U19. The race starts at 10.30am. Riders who do not have an MTB Australia licence will also need to buy a day licence for $20. There is a kids’ event at 9.45am around a shorter track, which costs $5 to enter (Dirtmasters free).
Racing should be over by around 1.30pm, with presentation soon after. The Elite Men complete 4 laps of the 11km track, with other age groups riding 2 or 3 laps. This is one of the highlights for the year for NEMTB and it should be an impressive show of speed, skill and endurance.
Catering will be courtesy of Drummond Memorial Public School. There will be a portable toilet on site and the Armidale SES will be looking after marshalling and first aid. Free camping is available Saturday night, with everyone welcome to have a practice ride on the track on Saturday. There is also a social ride on Saturday at Robber’s Run. Registration can be done online via the link on the NEMTB website. For further details, contact Matthew Benham on mbenham@newa.nsw.gov.au or 0488 711 027. There are also details on the NEMTB website: www.nemtb.com.au
