It was a gruelling
battle, the three-hour
race taking its toll on
several key riders
GROOMBRIDGE
Dickey quickly moved through the traffic to
put himself in a three-way battle for the lead,
banging handlebars with fellow KTM rider Sam
Brown, from Glen Murray, and Husqvarna rider
Reece Lister, from Wairoa.
It was a gruelling battle, the three-hour race
taking its toll on several key riders. By the final
lap Dickey was at the front and had established
a healthy lead. Lister had been forced to
withdraw after a previous ankle injury began to
cause fresh problems for him, leaving Brown to
continue the fight.
This left the way clear for Dickey and Brown to
engage in a one-on-one battle for the win, with
Dickey eventually prevailing and crossing the
finish line nearly a minute ahead of Brown.
Taupo’s defending national cross-country
champion Brad Groombridge had problems
too, a long way back in the field after he’d
crashed on the opening lap, although he did
manage to work his way back up to finish third
overall, three and a half minutes further back.
Whanganui’s Seth Reardon finished fourth
overall and Raglan’s Brandon Given rounded
out the top five.
This result has shown that Dickey and Brown
are both ready to step forward and challenge
Groombridge for his title this season.
KIWI RIDER 29