On a warm, sunny Sunday in the Southern Highlands of NSW, a field of 1600 mountain bikers lined up for the start of the 2009 Highland Fling. An event that’s popularity had seen it sold out in 5 hours. 

An impressive field of Elite riders (including past and present world champions) exploded from the line as the gun went off at 8 am.  

It didn’t take long for the action to start. Clarence Street Cyclery rider (and occasional ROCKSTAR RACING team member) Matt Fleming broke a chain 1km into the race and worked hard to get back on to the field. ROCKSTAR Hamish Elliot was the next to suffer with 2 punctures in the first 10km. 

At the front of the field a war of attrition was unfolding. As the Elites hit the 50km mark, the furious pace was taking its toll. At the climbs at 70 km, it was ROCKSTAR Hamish Elliot who had caught the field and then attacked! As he reached the summit of the major climb, his job was done and he passed the lead over to fellow ROCKSTAR Craig Gordon.  

As the front runners hit the final feed zone at 80km, Craig turned up the heat and was never beaten, winning the 110km event in 4hrs and 16 minutes.  

Current world 24hr Champion Jason English, and former Fling winner Shaun Lewis worked together to try and pull back the ever conquering Gordon; however it was not to be. They crossed the line 1 ½ minutes down to claim 2nd and 3rd. 

Craig reflected on the race, “I really wanted to win this today. I was keen to get the ROCKSTAR team back to the top of the podium ... Hamish Elliot did an incredible job out there. He ended up puncturing 3 times but still managed to lead for a while.” 

“ Winners are grinners, so we’re smiling”.