Peter Campbell is preparing to take on his 11th Dwellingup 100 mountain bike race.
Camera IconPeter Campbell is preparing to take on his 11th Dwellingup 100 mountain bike race. Credit: Supplied/Karen McLeod

Legs 11 for mountain bike racer

Tyler BrownWanneroo Times

LAST year Peter Campbell became the only person to finish the 100km trail in all 10 years of the Dwellingup 100 mountain bike race.

This Saturday, he plans to make it 11 times.

The Carramar resident said the first Dwellingup 100 was held in the first year he started mountain bike riding so taking on the 100km trail in the 40-50 age bracket was definitely a challenge.

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“The time doesn’t show it but I was dead last,” Mr Campbell said.

“They were picking up the track markers behind me.”

But each year he continues to tackle the trail, challenging himself to improve on his previous year’s time or on his personal best despite it not getting any easier.

“The biggest challenge is when your brain is telling you to stop or you hit things like fatigue, punctures or mechanical or physical failure,” the Perth Mountain Bike Club member said.

“One year I did the last 50km with no rear brakes.

“I crashed twice but still came in smiling.”

Last year, Mr Campbell was also a co-recipient of the Kyle and Connor Spirit of the Ride Award for his 10 years of participation and raising more than $10,000 for Muscular Dystrophy WA (MDWA).

“The individuals and their families who are recipients of the fundraising are always there to support the competitors,” the 58-year-old said.

“The one year when it rained so much it was like riding in a creek, the MDWA support was there – saturated in their wheelchairs and cheering on the finishers.

“I have met a wonderful group of people at MDWA over the years and have no second thoughts about helping.”

He said the camaraderie on course was also “always great”.

“I am not the fastest but there are always individual races going on with the people around your pace and if I can finish in front of someone younger than me – even better,” he said.

To donate, visit dwellingup100.everydayhero.com/au/peter-campbell.

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