Mountain biking: Pair guts it out for big payday

Daniel Johnstone, right, and Sean Joyce in a close finish, won by Johnstone. Photo / Ben Fraser

Mountain bikers Keegan Wright (Rotorua) and Raewyn Morrison (Kapiti) have picked up the biggest payday of their young careers during an enduro event in Rotorua.

The Giant 2W Gravity Enduro race, which mixes cross country and downhill mountain biking, was held on Saturday in the Whakarewarewa Forest.

It was the last of three events held during the Gravity Enduro series and sold out, with more than 400 riders taking part.

Ray White Rotorua put $10,000 up for grabs for anyone who could win every event in the series - a feat achieved by Wright, 19 and Morrison, 26, on Saturday.

They split the $10,000 cheque, taking $5000 each, and both ended up walking away with more than $7000 thanks to other cash prizes on offer.

"I'm absolutely stoked," Wright said. "To win that sort of money is pretty cool for me and it will help a lot. It is like winning a small Lotto."

He said the six-stage race was tough going and he pushed himself to the limit in his effort to win.

"I felt like I had no power in my legs and was having trouble pedalling. I ended up spewing at the end of two stages, as I had to work an extra 10 per cent harder than I usually would."

Wright is primarily a downhill rider and plans to take part in Crankworx and World Cup events around the world this year, in the men's elite division.

"That money will go into all my overseas travel."

Morrison said it was the biggest payday she had received.

"I'm absolutely over the moon. It is still quite unreal. It is the most money I have won by a long shot."

Morrison is a world-class enduro rider and will ride for the Lapierre Gravity Republic team in the Enduro World Series this year.

Last year she finished ninth overall in the world tour but will have a lot more support this season after joining a professional team.

"We were doing the whole Kiwi thing last season, living in a van and eating canned food. So it will be a lot different this year, with all the support, and I'm really looking forward to it."

She said a big thank you to Ray White Rotorua for supporting local mountain biking.

Results from the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro race on Saturday (six-stage race):
Men: 1 Keegan Wright 38:40, 2 Carl Jones 39:33, 3 Louis Hamilton 40:37, 4 Nathan Rankin 40:45, 5 Connor Hamilton 41:13.
Women: 1 Raewyn Morrison 45:13, 2 Ronja Hill-Wright 48:28, 3 Lisa Horlor 49:20, 4 Vanessa Quin 49:49, 5 Katie O'Neill 52:14.