Inverell Mountain Bike Club members declare the 2020 Copeton 6 Hour Challenge a success

This was the tenth time the event had been staged.

"The event was a great success and very well supported by our local competitors and visitors from Armidale, Uralla, Tamworth, Narrabri, Toowoomba and Kempsey," said club publicity officer Michelle Rees.

"The ride started from the Reflections Holiday park kiosk area at 9am and this year we had two tracks - an 11km seniors track and a 4km junior track.The junior's were able to do the little loop so there was something for everyone."

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Mrs Rees said a group of 32 competitors from The Armidale School made up of six adults and 24 students boosted the junior numbers considerably.

On the 11km track, there was a six-hour event for individuals, pairs and teams, and a three-hour individual event while on the 4km track, there was a three hour event for under 17 years individual, pairs and teams.

"Some people like to iron man the race by themselves while some enjoy a rest between laps with a team, the decision was theirs," Mrs Rees said.

"This is always a fantastic event and camping was available at the Reflections Holiday Park so some made a weekend of it and some just stayed for the ride."

Owing to COVID-19 restrictions entries had to be completed online before 5pm on the Saturday but Mrs Rees said this did not seem to effect entry numbers.

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"Due to COVID-19 restrictions there are no entries accepted on the day," she said.

"However we had about double the numbers who competed last year and it was the best turn out we have had for a while.

"A lot of bike events had to be cancelled earlier in the year due to COVID-19 so I think people were just excited to be able to ride again.

"We had good entries in all our categories both junior and senior."

Once again the winner of the 'Male 6 Hour Solo' was Alwyn Miller who completed an incredible 11 laps of the 11km track in the six hours.

"It is the fourth time Alwyn has taken out the win in the 10 years the event has been running. It was a great competition between Alwyn and second place getter Michael Sherwood who also competed 11 laps," said Mrs Rees.

"Local riders Jodi and Brad Newman took out first place in the mixed pairs category and Peter Horwood and Zac Sunderland took out the male pairs category. "

Mrs Rees said all the riders commented on the track and highly recommended it.

"There is a now designated trail head and track map at the Copeton Kiosk, the tracks are clearly marked and are open all year round to enjoy," she said.

"The Copeton track is a great complement to our track in Inverell on the Bundarra Road."

Mrs Rees advised anyone interested in joining the club to go through their Facebook page - Inverell Mountain Bike Club.

"Riders of all skill levels and ages are catered for and welcomed," she said.

Winners of the 2020 Copeton 6 Hour

Male 6Hr Solo - Alwyn Miller Inverell

6Hr Mixed pairs - Jodi and Brad Newman from Inverell

6Hr Male pairs - Peter Horwood and Zac Sunderland from Inverell

6Hr Female pairs - Emily Wooster & Katherine Hosking both from Armidale

6Hr Teams 3 or 4 - Steven Roberts, Justin Roberts, Lachie Butters all from Tamworth

6Hr Ebike - Remy Taylor & Riley Simmons TAS Armidale

3Hr Solo - Glen Charlton Armidale

3Hr Junior 4Km loop

Pairs Under 13 - Jack Barwick & Benjamin Shaw both from Tamworth

Pairs 13-16Yrs - Luca Williams & Archibald Pengilley both from TAS Armidale

Under 13 Team 3 or 4 - Baxter Williams, Andrew Hardin & Patrick White all from TAS Armidale