Halfway through yesterday I said that I couldn't believe it was almost half way finished. So much goes into an event like our 6 hour, that when it unfolds in front of you, it's almost unbelievable.

The 2011 Forrest 6 hour is over for another year. With blue'ish skies for most of the day, we had probably our best evet yet. I don't think I will forget the sprint finish at the end of 6 horus racing between Niki Fisher and Peta Mullens. Those two girls put on a massive show for the rest of us and yet again proved just how exciting REAL mountain bike racing can be.

Also in the mens race, Luke Fetch proved that he is no longer "that young kid", by systematically taking apart the rest of the field. Phil Orr, a fast finishing Jarrod Moroni and a determined Mitch Anderson ensured that he needed to keep riding for all the 6 hours in order to get his win.

In the womens and male pairs, Forrest club members featured heavily, with Hamish Middleton and Tony Lupino taking out the mens, due to some blistering laps by Hamish, aka SHAMWOW!, who also had the fastest laps of the day. In the womens pairs, it was Forrest local Jessica Douglas, who teamed up with Giant Real Riders, "Ride with Jess" competition winner, Eliza Eldride Bassett, to hold of the rest of the field and record the win. All other category winners are below.

A big shout out to all our competitors... I can speak on behalf of all of our club when I say that it really is you the folks that come along, that truly make our little event what it has become.

It still amazes just how many of the "establishment" don't come along to our event, yet we still sell out and I think this lack of "regulars" is sometimes what makes our event unique.

I've never seen so many "ordinary" riders out there having a ball... toe clips, cotton T-Shirts and all.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thanks for all the kind words throughout the day.

A massive thanks to all those volunteers who made mine and Roland's job so much easier.

 

For me the really amazing point came, when Mayor Brian Crook (Mayor of Colac Otway Shire), said to me... "I'm just blown away by what such a small club has done".

 

Getting our type of events seen by mainstreamers is crucial to the acceptance of our sport.

Thanks again for a fantastic day. Bigger thanks to all our sponsors, including
Giant Bikes, Scotchmans Hill Fine Wines, Bike Guru Colac, Berratas Bike Hub, Forrest Brewery, TWE Wheels, Forrest Country Guest House, Colac Otway Shire, DSE & Otway Fly

RESULTS:

PODIUM PLACES

Category Summary

Lap Splits

Overall Results

Some photos of the day here, courtesy of Russ Baker > https://picasaweb.google.com/lematelot56/Forrest6Hr05Jun2011#