Grant, Luke and John - MMBCC News - Sun 22 Feb

Here is the news.…

Rider Development Grants

Applications are now open for Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club High Performance Grants and Young Rider Development Grants for 2025-2026. 

These grants provide financial assistance for MMBCC cyclists aged 25 and under.  The  grants are designed to encourage and support the development of young riders at varying levels in their cycling careers. Grants are available to assist with the cost of entry fees, travel, accommodation, equipment or training.

The grants are open to cyclists in any of the club’s cycling disciplines – road, mountain-biking (cross-country, downhill and enduro), cyclocross, gravel or BMX.   

Applications will close on 28th February, 2026.  

  • Young Rider Development Grants - bronze ($250), silver ($500), gold ($1000)

  • High Performance Grant ($2000)

The following criteria must be met by the successful applicants:

  • be under 25 years of age by 31st December 2026;

  • be a fully paid up member of MMBCC for a minimum of 2 calendar years;

  • must complete an application to MMBCC prior to 28th Feb 2026; and

  • grant recipients (or a family member) must commit at least one full day of volunteer labour at MMBCC events. High Performance Grant recipients will be expected to report back to members at the 2025/2026 AGM.

The MMBCC Executive Committee assesses applications and may seek advice and input from third-parties (e.g. non committee and other sporting bodies) on an as-needs basis.

The following points are not essential eligibility criteria but will be considered by the committee as part of its assessment process:

  • participation and/or results in regional, state, interstate , national and international events;

  • selection for state and/or national training/development camps or teams;

  • receipt of sponsorships or grants from other organisations/businesses; and 

  • planned use of money - e.g. travel reimbursement, accommodation reimbursement, equipment purchase, entry fee etc.

Please email all applications to mmbcc.info@gmail.com

Application closing date: 28th February, 2026.

Successful grants will be announced by 31st March 2026. 

Luke 2 Consistent

By Damian Grundy

Last Tuesday saw the MMBCC hold another ‘traditional’ first off event - 2 laps of the same course for every rider with each lap timed; the rider able to complete 2 laps with the most consistent times wins!

The lap was a good 2.2km and in Rifle Butts Park every option will offer a great MTB challenge.

There are anarchists in every crowd and this week Ryder Chadd fronted on his cyclocross bike. This was a brave choice as the descents at Rifle Butts are currently rough and rocky, to say the least! Not favourable to going fast on a skinnier tyre!

Let me just say how fantastic it was to see our biggest turn out for the season for an XC night. 24 starters!! Thanks for coming everyone.

Once the laps were completed and the dust had settled … and the timing crew (Thanks heaps as always to Kate Stonnill and this week Steve Curnow for managing the timing) had worked through the calculations the results were out. There have been times for these events where a difference of 20 seconds between laps would put a rider on the podium. But not this time!

Holding sway on the night was LUKE VIVASH with an incredible 0, yes ZERO second difference. 2 laps at 10 min 52 sec apiece! Well done Luke.

I felt confident that my 2 laps at 1 second variation would be enough but no. It was to be a second place for me. In third was Alastair Ross with 2 seconds difference then Ant Bateup in fourth on 4 seconds and Dave Bock in fifth at 6 seconds.

Well done everyone. Here are the results. See you next week for a gravity night.

Volunteers Needed

By Clare Hoey - AusCycling Event Coordinator ‑ MTB/CX

No experience necessary.

2026 GWM MOUNTAIN BIKE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Mt Buller - Wednesday 18 - Sunday 22 March

Get closer to the action at the upcoming 2026 GWM National Mountain Bike Championships by volunteering trackside as a course marshal.

We offer flexible 5-hour shifts and some great perks including:

  • Official AusCycling Events Volunteer T-shirt

  • Delicious catered lunch provided on site

  • FREE event entry for you or a loved one after the completion of two of more shifts

You will have the best view on the mountain and it is the perfect way to support your local MTB community!

Register to volunteer today. Click here to find out more.

Eisner on the limit off LImit

By Ben Grundy

The Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club’s 22km race on 19 February 2026 delivered plenty of action and a few decisive moments that shaped the final standings.

In a strong showing, Bruce Halket set the fastest time of the day, riding a consistent and powerful race to top the results.

John Eisner rode alone off the front for the entire race and claimed the win, producing a dominant solo performance from start to finish.

One of the key moves came on Coombesberg Hill, where Ben Grundy put in a telling effort to drop Craig Wilson. That surge proved decisive, allowing Grundy to gain the upper hand and secure second place, with Wilson rounding out the podium in third after a solid ride. The pair had been evenly matched for much of the race but the move on the climb created the gap that ultimately stuck.

Further back, there was late drama as Ben Ross managed to distance Darren Bakker close to the finish. After riding strongly together, Ross found a little extra in the closing stages to edge clear. With strong rides across the field and plenty of tactical racing on display, it was another successful and entertaining outing for the local cycling community.

Here are the results and thanks again to Tony Copland for his photos.

Next week, with the roundabout finished on Monkey Gully Road, it’s time for the Merinda Way Loop.