The competitive high school mountain bike series came to a close on the hills and trails in Whistler last weekend.
More than 300 athletes from around the province competed at the 2006 provincial high school finals.
In the final team aggregate standings, Chatelech placed second with 732 points, behind Don Ross from Squamish. Elphin-stone finished in sixth place with 505 points.
Chat sent 11 of its 12-member team to Whistler.
"The course was technically challenging with a significant amount of climbing and single track," said Chat coach Dave Bates. "Rain added an element of challenge."
In the tough senior boys' division, Jesse Horn battled in the top 10, finishing the 25 km race in fifth place. MacKenzie Mitson also had a good ride, finishing 20th.
Christine Lynch, Chat's lone senior girl at the event, had a tough start, getting directed off the course. But she fought her way back to the pack, finishing the 16 km course fourth overall.
In junior girls, Katherine Short continued her dominance, capturing first place, while Jen Brown finished fifth.Grade 9 rider Julie Wildeman also had a great race, finishing eighth.
The Grade 8 boys, the largest group in Whistler with 70 athletes, had two Chat riders in the group. Matt Brown placed fourth, while Kevin Bates was 13th.
The Grade 8s were rounded out with Jenna Phelps taking fifth in the girls' division.
The last group to start was the Grade 10 junior boys. Again Chat continued to dominate this age group, with Sean Stanhope showing excellent form and finishing first. Sean also set the second fastest two-lap time. Following Sean across the line was Spencer Blair, who also showed determination, fighting off Howe Sound Schools to take 10th overall.
"Finishing second overall is a significant feat for 11 athletes when you consider we are up against the 40-plus member team from Don Ross," said Bates. "Our team continues to develop. I was concerned we might have a bit of a lull with some of our best riders graduating in 2005, but the current Grade 10/11 riders have risen to the challenge and are fantastic mentors and role models to our new group of young Grade 8/9 riders. We should be giving the bigger teams a run for the top for the next few years at least."
Elphi sent 15 riders to Whistler and came home with some impressive results.
Top rider was Sebastian Sleep, who was second in Grade 8 boys. Claire McGilvary was fifth in Grade 9 girls and Devan Newman was second in the Grade 9 boys' heavy bike category. Curtis Robinson rounded out the top results with a seventh place finish in senior boys.
"It was a fantastic season for all our riders," said Elphi coach Sarah Mani. "A majority of our first year riders improved their personal standings in their category anywhere from 10 to 25 spots. This certainly bodes well for the future. Both Chat and our team developed such a great camaraderie throughout the year. The kids are such a unit out there. The support and encouragement is just fantastic to see."
