Sian A'Hern reclaims national downhill title after a whirlwind week at Mt Buller

Sian A’Hern (CORC) has claimed a fourth elite women’s downhill title at the 2025 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships at Mt Buller today. 

After missing out on the 2024 championships through injury, the Canberra dynamo came back with a vengeance, determined to reclaim the crown she last held two years ago. 

Her journey to the title, however, was far from straightforward. After a heavy crash during the seeding run, A’Hern faced a tough battle to gather herself before the race. 

“It was a whirlwind of a week,. 

“After yesterday’s hugie in quali I was going to have to dig deep to get down that track today,” she said in her post race interview with commentator Josh Carlson. 

The three-time champion tore down the track posting green sector times at every split.

She stopped the clock with a 3:26.212. 

Sian A'Hern on her way to winning the elite women's downhill.

As she waited nervously down the bottom of the course, Queensland’s Sacha Mills (Kooralbyn Valley MTB Club) would be the final rider on the course after topping seeding. 

The 2023 junior national champion had a solid top section,but as the track’s rock section loomed, Mills encountered a costly mistake, losing valuable time she could never recover from. 

A’Hern was overcome with emotion as Mills crossed 10 seconds behind. 

“Pretty stoked to claim another national title it means the world,” A’Hern said. 

“I knew if I rode like me, I’d do what I know I can do.” 

Mills took silver and Wollongong MTB Club’s Zali Miklas won the bronze. 

In the junior women, after putting down the fastest overall time during her seeding run, Elleni Turkovic (Garrigal Gorillas) turned it up a notch. 

The defending champion was smooth through the top splits and by the time she was through the final freeway section she would finish 14 seconds ahead of Sami Rothwell (Central Highlands MTB Club) who claimed the silver with Amelia Freeman (Club Mud) in third. 

“I had a smooth run and it all went to plan and I didn’t want to get too excited,” she said in her post race interview. 

Results - Elite Women Downhill

🥇 Sian A’Hern (CORC)
🥈 Sacha Mills (Kooralbyn Valley MTB Club) 
🥉 Zali Miklas (Woollongong MTB Club) 
 

Results - Junior Women Downhill

🥇Elleni Turkovic (Garrigal Gorrillas) 
🥈 Sami Rothwell (Central Highlands MTB Club) 
🥉Amelia Freeman (Club Mud) 

Full results can be hound here. 

Photo Credit: Matt Rousu Photography