Ontario MTB Athletes Show Their Strength at Canadian Championships  

Ontario MTB Athletes Show Their Strength at Canadian Championships  

The Canadian MTB Championships returned to Jordie Lunn Bike Park on Vancouver Island to determine the 2026 national champions.  Team Ontario (U17/U19) was well represented with a very deep cohort of 18 athletes, many with experience on this course from 2025 and OC MTB Camps in the spring.  

The XCC took place under unusual weather as the dry and dusty trail conditions received on and off rain, cool temperatures, and circulating winds making the bridges slippery and creating some mud on the course.  In the U17W, Ontario athletes made up the majority of the lead group before Anna Christiensen (Gold) and Hannah Lehmann (Silver) separated themselves from the pack to take the top two podium steps.  The U17M saw Josh Tyers take the lead and create a gap to repeat as U17 XCC Champion followed by fellow Ontario athlete Tom Lawson.  In the U19W and U19M races, Team Ontario athletes Alexa Haviland and Evan Moore raced hard to capture bronze medals.  The U23/Elite races saw some Team Ontario alumni get on the podium.  Ian Ackert battled hard to win the U23M Gold while Elli Clark took home the bronze in U23W, and Gunnar Holmgren took the silver in EliteM.  

The XCO races saw a return to sunny and dry race conditions.  Team Ontario U17W flexed their muscles to start the day of racing placing 4 in the top 6 including a podium sweep of Hannah Lehmann (Gold), Anna Christensen (Silver), and Nicole Haviland (Bronze).  The U17M’s race once again saw Josh Tyers take to the front early and after some battling opened up a 20s lead to take home his 2nd National Championship of the weekend.  In the U19W’s race Alexa Haviland added to her medal count with a silver medal while Evan Moore captured bronze in the U19M.  In the U23 races, Ian Ackert was hoping to make it a second gold but after a hard fought race had to settle for the silver with Elli Clark finishing just off the podium in the U23W race with a 4th place finish.  The EliteM concluded the day with a hard 7 lap race which saw Ontario athletes Cole Punchard take Silver and Owen Clark Bronze.   

Congratulations to all the athletes on their performances and creating an exciting national championship.  A big thank you to all the coaches, mechanics, and parents/guardians who continue to support all of these great athletes and make these performances possible.         

XCC Results

U17W 

1st Anna Christensen 

2nd Hannah Lehmann 

U17M 

1st Joshua Tyers 

2nd Tom Lawson 

U19W 

3rd Alexa Haviland 

U19M 

3rd Evan Moore 

U23W 

3rd Elli Clark 

U23M 

1st Ian Ackert 

EliteM 

2nd Gunnar Holmgren 

XCO Results

U17W 

1st Hannah Lehmann 

2nd Anna Christensen 

3rd Nicole Haviland 

U17M 

1st Joshua Tyers 

U19M 

3rd Evan Moore 

U19W 

2nd Alexa Haviland 

U23M 

2nd Ian Ackert 

Elite M 

2nd Cole Punchard 

3rd Owen Clark