Jordans Crossing Gazette

events A fling, unlike a marriage, never comes with the promise of permanence and so it is that the love affair that was The Highland Fling is over. As it has for the past 13 years, on the second Sunday of November, the Australian mountain biking community again poured into Bundanoon. At dawn on Sunday, for one final time, over 1200 riders were welcomed by the traditional Highland Fling bagpipes before setting off to race their chosen distance: The Some Fling (23km), Half Fling (55km) or Full Fling (110km). Nearly 150 kids smashed it out in the fiercely competitive Kids Fling too. The sun shone for the Final Fling, as it has for all but one of the 13 years. As I write this, the final tally is still being worked out, but Save the Children should saw Trent Moore crowned Rolloff World Champion by less than a metre. At dawn on Sunday, for one final time, riders were welcomed by the traditional Highland Fling bagpipes before setting off to race their chosen distance: The Some Fling (23km), Half Fling (55km) or Full Fling (110km). Whilst the Final Fling was a fundraiser for Save the Children, the racing between the elites was still fast and hard, with 2016 winner Brendan Johnston claiming his 4th Fling title, ahead of 13-time Flinger Andy Blair, and QLD rider Michael England. It was also great to welcome back Meaghan Stanton, who took the women’s Full Fling title over Brooke Darlington and Bre Vine. A brief history of nearly everyfling Back in 2005, I’d been organising big adventure events around NSW and the ACT for nearly a decade. One or two had visited the Highlands including our Polaris MTB Challenge in 2002. I had a dream to run a regular event in my own backyard, one that could put the Highlands on the map for cycling and one that could benefit the local economy and my local community. The Highland Fling MTB Marathon was launched. How many would enter, we wondered? By the event weekend over 750 riders plus supporters had come into town. All the main street cafes and restaurants ran out of food and receive at least $60,000 from the event. The Final Fling had a true mountain bike festival feel with the event HQ set up at Ferndale Oval with a host of activities including Kid’s Skills Clinics and the Kid’s Fling. We also saw the return of the original weekend 1km sprint race, the Bundy Clock Challenge – which ended up being decided with a track stand after a tied 2 minute fastest 1km time between veteran elite rider Andy Blair and young- gun Harry Watson. Saturday also saw Bundanoon host its final Rolloff World Championship. With a new course, and some exceptional trash talk, the battle was better than ever, and for the first time in race history almost saw a female, Kellie Finlay take the rainbow jersey. The final Final however The Final Fling – Thanks and farewell Photo: Marathon-Photos.com December 2017 38 jcg