PORT ANGELES — Nearly 500 riders from all around the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia competed in the return of the Northwest Cup downhill mountain bike races at Dry Hill this weekend.
Riders competed in Cat 3 (novice), Cat 2 (intermediate), Cat 1 (expert) and professional divisions. While Friday and Saturday races were practice runs and chances for locals to race, Sunday’s competitors came from as far away as Colorado, Illinois and even Hawaii.
Winning the pro men’s division Sunday was Ryan Griffith of Squamish, B.C., in a time of 2 minutes, 22.98 seconds. Second was Alten Pate of Snohomish in 2:23.34 and third was Henry Sherry of Victoria, B.C., in 2:23.67.
The top women’s pro was Matilda Melton of Bellingham in 2:42.85, Taylor Ostgaard of Selah in 2:45.25 was second and Emmy Lan of North Vancouver, B.C., was third in 2:49.06.
The top local finish was by Will Stevenson in the Cat 2 men’s 60-plus division. The Port Angeles rider won this division in a time of 3:33.98, nearly five seconds ahead of second place.
Other local top finishes include Port Angeles’ Richard Dahms in the Cat 3 40-49 men’s division, who finished second. Miles Johnson of Port Angeles was fourth in the Cat 3 11-14 boys division.
Two Port Angeles riders competed in the expert division — James Gardner in the men’s 40-49 category and Grace Aimar in the women’s 19-29 category.
The Northwest Cup consists of seven races over the summer and fall with two races at Dry Hill. The NW Cup returns to Dry Hill on May 16 to May 18. It then travels to Tamarack, Idaho, June 20-22; Whitefish, Mont., June 27-29; Kellogg, Idaho July 25-27; Summit Bike Park at Snoqualmie Aug. 1-3 and wraps up with the season finals at Stevens Pass Sept. 5-7.
Winners of each division, including local finishers, include:
NW Cup at Dry Hill, Sunday
Pro Women — Matilda Melton, Bellingham, first, 2:42.85; Taylor Ostgaard, Selah, second, 2:45.25; Emmy Lan, North Vancouver, B.C., third, 2:49.06.
Pro Men — Ryan Griffith, Squamish, B.C., first, 2:22.98; Alden Pate, Snohomish, second, 2:23.34; Henry Sherry, Victoria, B.C., 2:23.67.
Cat 1
Women 18-under — Alyana Van Horn, Medford, Ore., 2:48.84.
Women 19-39 — Esme Eskelin, Kimberley, B.C., 3:05.89, first; Grace Aimar, PA, eighth, 3:37.59.
Women 40-plus — Lanette Fidrych, Scappoose, Ore., 3:16.45.
Boys 16-under — Nash Jamieson, White Rock, B.C., 2:28.4.
Men 17-18 — Luke Stopanski, Kimberley, B.C., 2:29.02.
Men 19-29 — Braden Delzer, Gresham, Ore., 2:34.19.
Men 30-39 — Braydon Shields, Yakima, 2:35.65.
Men 40-49 — Justin Ruth, Snohomish, 2:39.78, first; James Gardner, PA, 12th, 3:08.21.
Men 50-plus — Brad Delzer, Gresham, Ore., 2:54.74.
Cat 2
Girls 11-14 — Emile Simeur, Bellingham, 3:22.15.
Women 15-18 — Skye Sherman, Squamish, B.C., 3:37.89.
Women 19-39 — Jamie Wheeler, Campbell River, B.C., 3:26.75.
Women 40-plus — Brittany McKenna, Cumberland, B.C., 3:52.46.
Boys 12-under — Crosby Zimmerman, Kent, 3:11.81.
Boys 13-14 — Evan McKenna, Cumberland, B.C., 2:57.81.
Boys 15-16 — Grahame Shepherd, Bellingham, 3:01.57.
Men 17-18 — Miles Rimmer, Seattle, 3:02.61.
Men 19-29 — Austin Ludwigsen, Blaine, 2:57.67.
Men 30-39 — Christopher Abair, Woodinville, 3:03.14.
Men 40-49 — Danny Stevens, White Salmon, 3:00.22, first; Jared Scott, PA, 24th, 3:43.45.
Men 50-59 — Mike Hammond, Seattle, 3:06.08.
Men 60-plus — Will Stevenson, PA, 3:33.98.
Cat 3
Girls 10-under — Millicent Zimmerman, Maple Valley, 4:12.19.
Girls 11-14 — Kimber Hintz, Seabeck, 4:04.6, first; Briar Johnson, Port Angeles, seventh, 5:06.42.
Women 15-18 — Helena Piaseczny, Bellevue, 3:58.87.
Women 19-39 — Caroline Shields, Yakima, 4:09.6.
Women 40-plus — Judy Klein, Redmond, 4:20.12.
Boys 7-under — Elon Gromyko, Lynnwood, 4:31.89.
Boys 8-10 — Ryder Goodson, Issaquah, 3:55.78, first; Maverick Johnson, PA, ninth, 4:35.74.
Boys 11-14 — Carson Haserot, Longview, 3:40.77, first; Miles Johnson, PA, 3:52.61, fourth; Isaiah Neville, PA, sixth, 4:02.7; Evan Hernandez, PA, seventh, 4:04.11; Auven Audett, PA, ninth, 4:08.29.
Men 15-18 — John McCormick, Graham, 3:31.46.
Men 19-39 — Kurtis Jackson, Auburn, 3:38.65.
Men 40-49 — Duran Delgado, Everett, 3:49.38, first; Richard Dahms, PA, second, 3:53.47.
Men 50-59 — Gregory Dianich, Carnation, 3:45.72.
Men 60-plus — David Comeau, Snoqualmie, 4:14.37.
