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Sarsha Huntington takes Dual Slalom and 4x wins at Oceanias

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Sarsha Huntington, winner of the Oceania 4x 2010.
Photo: Rita Langley

It's New Zealand's turn to host the Oceania DH and 4x Champs, and gravity racing kicked off on Friday with Dual Slalom. It was a low key affair with less than thrity entrants in total, and only two women. The track was incredibly short at around 15 seconds for the fast guys, but had some loose corners that made for some good action in the racing. The women's final was easily won byAustralia's Sarsha Huntington over Kiwi rider Rita Langley.

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Dual Slalom start gate, Oceanias 2010.
Photo: Celia Lie

 

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Rita Langley dodging trees in the dual slalom, Oceanias 2010.
Photo: Celia Lie

In the 4x, there was concern that not enough entries would mean calling off the women's race. Fortunately some of the Kiwi juniors stepped up and took on the long, challenging 4x track and made an exciting race. In the final, Sarah Atkin crashed in one of the top corners but fought back from last place to second, passing fourth placed Kaytee Campbell and finishing just ahead of Madeline Taylor. She couldn't quite catch Sarsha Huntington though.

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Sarah Atkin, 4x practice, Oceanias 2010.
Photo: Rita Langley

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Madeline Taylor and Kaytee Campbell, 4x practice.
Photo: Rita Langley

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Kaytee Campbell in the air during 4x practice.
Photo: Rita Langley

Fourcross results:

1 Sarsha Huntington (Brisbane, Aus); 2 Sarah Atkin (Wellington, NZ); 3 Madeline Taylor (Hawkes Bay, NZ); 4 Kaytee Campbell (Hamilton, NZ)

Dual Slalom results:

1 Sarsha Huntington (Brisbane, Aus); 2 Rita Langley (Christchurch, NZ)