Reigning Oceania Champion Samara Maxwell (New Zealand) made it a sweep of all three rounds and Jack Ward (Australia) claimed his first win at the final round of the 2025 Oceania MTB Continental Series in Canberra, Australia, Sunday 2 March 2025.

Maxwell proved why she is one of the best in the world with a series sweep, though she had it far from her own way with dual World Championship medallist Rebecca Henderson (Australia) pushing her all the way as she had in the previous two rounds. Having been together for the opening three laps it was only in the second half of the race the New Zealander was able to take a small advantage and the win by 38 seconds.

Maxwell’s three wins earned her 300 points for the series title ahead of Henderson on 240 and Zoe Cuthbert (Australia) with her two second places on 120 rounded out the top three.

In the elite men’s race Australia’s Jack Ward produced an upset to take the win ahead of eight-time Oceania Champion and series leader and eight-time Oceania Champion Anto Cooper (New Zealand). Much like round three a day earlier, the pair were closely matched over the seven lap race with Ward only able to ride away in the closing stages to a narrow three second victory. Scott Bowden (Australia) completed the top three.

Cooper claimed the overall victory in the Oceania MTB Continental Series on 280 points ahead of Ward on 180 and Brent Rees (Australia) on 110.

Reuben Page-Brown (Australia) stormed clear to take out the under 23 men’s race ahead of Harry Doye (Australia) who with second in round one and winning round two saw him claim top three finishes across the series. In third Joel Dodds (Australia) also made it a podium sweep.

The consistency paid off for Doye who finished on 140 points, 25 clear of runner up Coen Nicol (New Zealand) with Joel Dodds rounding out the top three on 100.

In the under 23 women’s Ella Menigoz (Australia) claimed back-to-back victories, finishing more than a minute clear of New Zealand’s Annabel Bligh and Amelie Mackay.

Menigoz’s two victories and fifth in the opening round earned her the series title on 140 points, 30 clear of second place Bligh with the top three completed by Mackay a further 25 points back.

Australia’s Connor Wright proved himself as a dominant force in the under 19 men’s category storming to victory by over three and a half minutes for back-to-back wins and matching the lap times of the elite men. James Climo (New Zealand) took another second ahead of Fletcher Adams (New Zealand).

Back-to-back wins were not enough for Wright to take the overall series win having missed the opening round. Climo’s consistency finished top two across the rounds earned him 56 points and the series title ahead of Adams on 48 and Wright on 40.

In similar style to stage two Kayley McMillan (New Zealand) rode her own race steadily building on her advantage to finish 57 seconds clear of Ruby Taylor (Australia) and Millie Junge (New Zealand) a further two minutes behind to claim the win.

With a first, second and third across the series Junge walked away with the series title on 54 points ahead of McMillan on 40 and Taylor on 34.

Results
Elite Men
1: Jack Ward (Australia)
2: Anton Cooper (New Zealand)
3: Scott Bowden (Australia)

Elite Women
1: Samara Maxwell (New Zealand)
2: Rebecca Henderson (Australia)
3: Zoe Cuthbert (Australia)

Under 23 Men
1: Reuben Page-Brown (Australia)
2: Harry Doye (Australia)
3: Joel Dodds (Australia)

Under 23 Women
1: Ella Menigoz (Australia)
2: Annabel Bligh (New Zealand)
3: Amelie Mackay (New Zealand)

Under 19 Men
1: Connor Wright (Australia)
2: James Climo (New Zealand)
3: Fletcher Adams (New Zealand)

Under 19 Women
1: Kayley McMillan (New Zealand)
2: Ruby Taylor (Australia)
3: Millie Junge (New Zealand)

Oceania MTB Continental Series Cross-country Series Winners
Elite Men: Anton Cooper (New Zealand)
Elite Women: Samara Maxwell (New Zealand)
U23 Men: Harry Doye (Australia)
U23 Women: Ella Menigoz (Australia)
U19 Men: James Climo (New Zealand)
U19 Women: Millie Junge (New Zealand)

Final Series Rankings