Local Nelson rider Shannon Hewetson scored big for the hometown with victory in the elite men’s category at the New Zealand Enduro Championships.

For the second straight year, the national jerseys were decided in association with the Cable Bay Enduro and located at the outstanding Cable Bay Adventure Park in Nelson.

Hewetson managed to make a strong start on Saturday – fastest in two stages and second fastest in the other, to hold the day one advantage from fellow Nelson rider Brady Stone, who has just signed with Polygon Factory Racing to compete in the 2024 Enduro World Series.

With several international events in Australasia and the Nelson event a qualifier for the World Cup, several high profile riders headed to Cable Bay including leading kiwi Charlie Murray, the legendary American Richie Rude - the 2023 world series overall winner – and Frenchwoman Julie Duvert.

But the kiwis held their own on day two, especially those from Nelson who are well-used to the challenges of the Cable Bay tracks.

Hewetson finished with fastest time on the final stage to claim overall honours in 28:40.58 with Stone only 8.28 behind. Murray was fastest on day two to finish third overall 9.66 from the winner, with Rude back in fourth.

The elite women’s contest proved a repeat win for Nelson’s Rae Morrison, with the Liv Racing Collective rider in a class of her own in elite women, fastest in all seven stages to win in 33:02.99, clear of Duvert and Louise Kelly, another Nelson-based Enduro World Series rider.

The under-21 honours went to outstanding Christchurch prospect Winnifred Goldsbury in the women, and as the fastest overall time among all female riders, she was awarded the national jersey. The men’s under-21 title went to Upper Hutt’s Lachie Ross in the men.

Results:

Female, Elite: Rae Morrison 33:02.99, 1; Julie Duvert at 1:54.28, 2; Louise Kelly at 2:33.07, 3.

Under 21: Winnifred Goldsbury 32:55.85, 1; Xanthe Robb at 1:38, 2; Erica Batchelor at 5:50, 3.

Masters 1: Annie Garland 40:45.47, 1; Michele Aebi at 1:04.39, 2; Bronnie Fechney at 10:34.28, 3.

Masters 2: Sandy Vincent 39:14.66, 1.

Masters 3: Melanie Blomfield 45:23.54, 1; Mandy Richards at 1:52.11, 2; Karolyne Dunn at 3:15.95, 3.

Open: Kate Weatherly 37:00.60, 1; Amber Werensteyn at 2:00.209, 2; Kegan Ellmers at 4:32.00, 3.

Under-15: Nina McIntosh 41:21.44, 1.

Under-17: Harmony Stocker 37:56.91, 1; Lucy Kemp at 39.10, 2; Lucy Vincent at 2:08.54, 3.

Under-19: Poppy Croucher 42:36.83, 1; Emma Hockson at 1:11.81, 2.

Male, E-bike: Aidan Limmer 30:33.03, 1; Nathan Hewetson at 50.99, 2; Jared Guthrie at 2:23.97, 3.

Elite: Shannon Hewetson 28:40.58, 1; Brady Stone at 8:28, 2; Charlie Murray at 9:66, 3.

Under-21: Lachie Ross 29:41.30, 1; Illie Jenkins at 42.86, 2; Aidan Robinson at 44.82, 3.

Masters 1: Guy Gibbs 30:55.42, 1; Jonas Meier at 13:45, 2; Elliot Pearce at 3:10.14, 3.

Masters 2: Kurt Lancaster 32:42.22, 1; Chad Thomas at 49:76, 2; Kevin Toughey at 1:28.29, 3.

Masters 3: Andy Reid 34:01.54, 1; Hunter Robb at 32:16, 2; Robert Alexander at 2:07.20, 3.

Open: Tasman De Leeuw 29:56.91, 1; Martin Blackman at 1:12.51, 2; Lucas Walch at 2:09.54, 3.

15 years: Dylan Beca 37:04.61, 1; Oscar Slack at 1:11, 2; Stephen Grant at 4:44, 3.

17 years: Nico Schroder 31:11.28, 1; Sam Dunnett at 50.49, 2; Fletcher Matthews at 2:09, 3.

19 years: Marcus Sayers 31:55.79, 1; Eli Robertson at 24.26, 2; Bruno Browne at 30.73, 32.