Junior world championship silver medallist Lucy Mackie returned from shoulder surgery to take out the women's elite Middle Distance event at the ACT MTBO titles on Saturday.
Lucy won by two minutes from visiting Kiwi Marquita Gelderman over the 7.5km course at Kowen Forest.
"I am fitter than ever (having been training a lot on the road), but definitely struggled to make fast and accurate route choices - something that normally would’ve taken me a split second to decide ended up taking me ages!," she said.
"I have decided to take a break from MTBO and focus on enduro mountain biking. This decision has not been easy, and is something I have been thinking about for a while now. That being said, I will be at the NSW MTBO champs, and other events around Australia when I can. Hope to see everyone out there soon!"
Other NSW winners were: Nat Carroll (SH, M12), Rhiannon Prentice (NC, W20) and Carolyn Matthews (NC, W50). NSW riders also achieved two seconds and two thirds in the championship classes.
Sunday saw the Long Champs at a hilly Pierce's Creek, where Malcolm Roberts (Newcastle) took out a very competitive M60 field, while Rhiannon and Carolyn backed up to win again.
Lucy's dad Hamish finished a creditable second in M21 to go with his third placing in the Middle. The only other NSW Long placegetter was Big Foot stablemate Nick Wilkinson who was third in M50.
The weekend attracted around 80 competitors from seven states plus New Zealand, and were the first races for the 2019 World Masters MTBO series.
They also concluded the 2018 MTBO National League. Congratulations to these age class season winners: Rhiannon (W20), Carolyn (W50), and Uringa's Ori Gudes (M40). Victoria pipped NSW for the OA MTBO Plaque.
A reminder that the NSW MTBO champs are this weekend at Appin - entries have been extended to midnight Tuesday night.
