Southland's Josh Burnett claims NZ cyclo-cross title

Southland under-23 rider Josh Burnett and multi-talented international Kate McIlroy (Wellington) won respective elite honours in the Cyclocross National Championships in Upper Hutt.

The championships, a victim to the coronavirus last year, returned this year to be staged with the Aotearoa Cross Fest run by the Huttcross club at the Te Marua Speedway. While competitors enjoyed a clear sunny day, the early races in particular, had to cope with thick mud and boggy grass, although improved with the conditions as the day progressed.

The men’s race, combining elite and under-23 riders, proved a battle between Burnett, the 2019 champion Brendon Sharratt from Whanganui and well-known Rotorua mountain biker Sam Shaw.

Sharratt was dropped on the final lap with Burnett and Shaw cresting the flyover together before the young Southland rider edging to the win in a final sprint.

He clocked 55:44 to take overall honours with Shaw two seconds back ahead of Sharratt a further 14 seconds in arrears.

McIlroy, one of New Zealand most versatile and successful multi-sport athletes, added another sporting title to her remarkable list that includes world mountain running title, top-10 at the London Olympics in triathlon, as well as a national representative in athletics and cycling.

The 39-year-old was in a class of her own winning the women’s title in 46:09 with national mountain bike champion, Sammie Maxwell (Taupo) two minutes behind in second and leading under-23 rider.

Wellington’s Myra Moller was third ahead of her sister Mary-Ann Moller, who took the third-placed medal with Myra representing Cook Islands.

Taupo’s Coen Nicol took the male under-19 title with Cambridge 15-year-old rising star, Seana Gray claimed the women’s under-19 honours, with the category recognised by the UCI for the first time this year.

The championship attracted over 160 riders, an increase of 80 percent on 2019, racing in grades from under-15 to Masters with the oldest rider, Graham Collis from Christchurch at 71 years.

Results:

Male, elite: Josh Burnett (Invercargill) 55:44, 1; Sam Shaw (Rotorua) at 2sec, 2; Brendon Sharratt (Wanganui) at 16s, 3.

Junior men: Coen Nicol (Taupo) 44:53, 1; Maui Morrison (Te Awamutu) at m53sm 2; Ben Wilson (Hawkes Bay) at 2m14s, 3.

Female, elite: Kate McIlroy (Wellington) 46:09, 1; Sammie Maxwell (Taupo) at 2m05s, 2; Mary-Ann Moller (Wellington) at 5m36s, 3.

Junior: Seana Gray (Cambridge) 40:42, 1; Annabel Bligh (Christchurch) at 27s, 2.