Results – 2024 Liquor Barons Numbat Cup Round 3

The rains finally arrived! And what better way to celebrate the official arrival of winter than a special day of cyclocross racing at Lake Gwelup.

The course builders braved the wet and windy conditions in the early morning to create a course that put a smile, and a few grimaces, on the faces of the 230+ riders who pinned on a number throughout the day’s racing! We keep waxing lyrical about it, but it’s quite incredible to see the growth in popularity of cyclocross in Perth this season. It’s all down to the positive and welcoming attitude of all the volunteers, racers, spectators and supporters of WACX!

For the first time ever, WACX welcomed students from the Duncraig Triathlon Academy at Duncraig Senior High School to take part in a come-and-try session. Organised by WACX rider, Victoria Burrows-Bilton, the years 7 to 10 students battled in out on-course to see who could secure those race-winning bragging rights at school on Monday. We hope all the students enjoyed the day and we’ll see them again at upcoming races.

As always, the day’s main events were hotly contested affairs. In Women’s Elite, the open nature of the course meant that the quartet of Tracey Chapman, Lauren Humphreys, Sarah Tucknott and Alicia Reynolds stayed together for the first lap. Chapman made a move on lap 2 to put a few seconds into Tucknott and Humphreys, with first-year Under-19 rider, Reynolds, not quite able to hold onto the more experienced trio. Chapman came away with the win, 39 seconds clear of the charging Humphreys who managed to catch and pass third place-getter, Tucknott.

The Men’s Elite race saw a unique ‘handicap’ event take place. Current AusCycling Cyclocross National Series Elite Mens leader, Tristan Nash, was put to the test by giving the entire field a 3-minute headstart. He had to work his way through 28 Elite Men’s and 6 Men’s Masters A competitors if he hoped to take the win. It came down to an epic sprint into the last bend, with youngster and first-time cyclocross racer, Donovan Mackie, holding off Nash to take the win. The fight for the remaining podium spot was a tussle between veteran rider Lewis Blackie and another of our young riders, Toby Price. This time, experienced trumped youth, with Blackie taking third.

A big thank you to all the volunteers, sponsors and organisers who made this event possible. We look forward to seeing you all at the next round of the 2024 Liquor Barons Numbat Cup Series from Guildford Meadows in Caversdham on 23 June.