Mountain biking: Dramatic win for Masters in four-cross

Riding up a storm . . . (From left) Kieran Bennett, of Nelson, winner Wyn Masters, of New Plymouth, Daniel Franks, of Christchurch, and Matt Walker, of Kawerau (partially obscured), compete in the four-cross section at the Oceania mountain bike championships at Logan Park yesterday. Photo by Jane Dawber.

A crowd of 700 lined the hill to watch the dramatic action as Masters (22) shot through the gap on the fourth of the seven corners on the tricky and dusty slopes.

Christchurch rider Daniel Franks (16) jumped into the lead at the start and looked to have control when he went into the fourth corner.

"I was turning and he got inside me," a disappointed Franks said after the race. "He took a better line and that was the race for me."

Masters was happy with the result. He won the dual slalom on the first day and this was his second title at the Oceania championships.

"He left the gate open and I had to push him out," Masters said. "I knew it was my only chance and I had to do it."

The race was over at that point and Masters only had to stay on his bike to win the gold medal.

But Franks still had work to do to pass Kieran Bennett (Nelson) and claim the silver medal. Matt Walker (Kawerau) was fourth.

Sarsha Huntington (Brisbane) won her first Oceania four-cross title when she took control of the women's race at the second corner.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Atkin (Wellington), a pupil at Hutt Valley High School, was leading into the second corner but the more experienced Huntington (26) still looked in command.

Four-cross is an event where everything is legal and Atkin tried one of her tricks but it did not work on the second gate and the race was over.

"I tried to cut her off, but my front wheel slipped on the second corner," Atkin said.

Huntington knew she had the stronger finish.

"I had a good line and when Sarah slipped I knew I had the race," she said.

It was a formality after that as Huntington stretched her lead to win by 50m from Atkin with Madeline Taylor (Hawke's Bay) third and Kaytee Campbell (Hamilton) fourth.

The cross-country will be held at Forrester Park today with the elite race starting at 2pm. The downhill finals will be on the Signal Hill course tomorrow. The finals are scheduled to start at 1.30pm.