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Sun Peaks B.C. Cup a preview of nationals

Hundreds of mountain bikers converged on Kamloops last weekend to race in the fifth cross-country and downhill events on the provincial calendar, as well as the fourth dual slalom.

Hundreds of mountain bikers converged on Kamloops last weekend to race in the fifth cross-country and downhill events on the provincial calendar, as well as the fourth dual slalom. They also got a preview of the courses that will host the Tim Hortons Mountain Bike National Championships this weekend, featuring some of the top riders in Canada and the world.

From Whistler, Joanna Harrington led the field in the Senior Sport Women cross-country event with her time of one hour six minutes 24 seconds – over seven minutes faster than the next competitor.

"It’s going well out there," she said. "I’ve only been in a few of the races so far. This is pretty much my first year of racing, but I’m having fun and getting some good results, so I’m happy."

Harrington hopes to compete in the nationals next weekend, and should hear this week whether she will be seeded in the sport or expert category based on her race points from the season.

"I know how big the field is so I’m not holding my breath, but wherever they place me I’ll try my best," she said.

Jody Hopkins of Whistler competed in the same category, finishing in 1:20:12.

James "Crunch" Crowe continued his unbeaten streak in the Under 17 Expert Men category with another convincing win. His time of 1:35:12 put him in first by more than four minutes.

His father Eric Crowe was second among the Master 40-Plus Expert Men by just over seven minutes with his time of 1:36:14.

Mike Tunnah was sixth in the Senior Sport Men with a time of 1:24:48, 9:28 off the lead.

STORMBC rider Brook Baker won the Junior and Under 17 Expert Women race with her time of 1:37:22, almost 26 minutes ahead of her only competition.

Jill Vale was sixth in the Senior Expert Women’s category with a time of 1:36:01.

Chris McKnight, in his first cross-country race, was 13 th among the Senior Expert Men with his time of 1:55:59.

In downhill action, Whistler’s Chris Dewar was 11 th in the Senior Elite Men category out of 31 entries with a time of 5 minutes 46.88 seconds. Kelly Walters was 17th in 5:55.44.

In the Senior Elite Women’s race, Sylvie Allen and Claire Buchar of Whistler were second and third with times of 6:31.15 and 6:33.61 respectively.

In the Senior Expert Men’s race, Whistler’s Tyler Morland was fourth in 5:49:28.

The B.C. Cup series wraps up with the championships on Aug. 17 and 18 in Kelowna.