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Riders eat up Phat Wednesday course

The third Phat Wednesday race of the season took place on July 14 with 199 riders - one short of sold out - ripping down a selection of trails that included Upper A-Line, World Cup Singletrack and B line.

The third Phat Wednesday race of the season took place on July 14 with 199 riders - one short of sold out - ripping down a selection of trails that included Upper A-Line, World Cup Singletrack and B line.

The event attracted a good number of racers in a wide range of categories, including four junior female riders for the first time this season. The junior male group was 22 deep and there were 16 women in the start line.

Men's Master 30-Plus and Men's Open scooped the majority of spots with 154 entries in both divisions.

In the men's open race Kenny Smith was the top rider out of 126 racers in a time three minutes, 17.99 seconds, a second-and-a-half ahead of Robin Potvin's 3:19.55. Tristan Merrick was third in 3:22.04.

Rounding out the top 10 were Ryan Andrews in 3:22.40, Trevor Burke in 3:22.60, Denis Courchesne in 3:22.76, Peter Matthews in 3:22.80, Charlton Durie in 3:23.26, Curtis Robinson in 3:23.75 and David West in 3:24.15.

Chris Dewar topped the master category in 3:23.46, followed by Bart Brown in 3:24.36 and Andrew Gunn in 3:24.91. The top 10 also included Alan Golds in 3:27.29, Richard Bedford in 3:28.41, Todd Hellinga in 3:29.54, Jeff Leigh in 3:29.78, Jason Josling in 3:31.16, Steve Storey in 3:32.34 and Stephane Lincourt in 3:37.85.

Series leader Sarah Leishman was a DNF in the women's race, with Brook Baker taking her first win of the season in 3:42.18. Beth Parsons finish just six-hundredths of a second back in 3:42.20, with Julie Istvan in third in 3:47.47. In the top 10 were Shelly Flood in 3:50.27, Kerri-Ann Thibeau in 3:55.01, Simmone Lyons in 3:56.98, Amalie Budgen in 3:56.01, Rachelle Frazer in 3:58.98, Lisa Mason in 4:00.19 and Yvonne Birker in 4:08.14.

Bryn Dickerson was the top junior male in 3:22.43, a time that would have placed him fifth in the men's open category. Daniel Norton was second in 3:26.12, Xander Geddes third in 3:28.18, Thomas Zonneveld fourth in 3:28.36, Ollie Gregory-Jones fifth in 3:30.08, Gabe Vianna sixth in 3:32.31, Jack Isles seventh in 3:32.32, Graeme Tod-Tims in 3:32.69, Jamie Hoare ninth in 3:33.13 and Adison MacDonald 10 th in 3:33.97.

Luana Auer was the top junior female in 4:03.01, followed by Ava Buchan in 4:06.74 and Morgan Olsen in 4:49.42.

The biggest winners of the competition were the ones who came away with draw prizes. This week Gabe Vianna and Michael Van De Riet won the Sram drive trains, Stephan Lincourt won the Hayes brakes, Brad Swansen won the Sin Ringle rims, Corrie Mullins won the Decline magazine subscription and Jeff Leigh won the Kali full face helmet. Other prizes were donated by Race Face, Odi, Decline, Dakine, Garbanzo Bike and Bean, the GLC and Kokanee.

There was another Phat Wednesday race on July 21, after which point there will be a short break for Crankworx. The two remaining events will take place on Aug. 18 and Sept. 1.

As well, there are two PhaSt Wednesday races remaining on July 28 and Aug. 25, geared to expert level riders and racers.

For more information visit www.whistlerblackcomb.com/bike.