Connor Wright, Neve Parslow take narrow junior time trial wins

Rising stars Connor Wright and Neve Parslow, both riding for ARA Skip Capital, have won the junior time trials at the 2026 Westbridge Funds National Championships.

On a sunny but windy afternoon in Perth, Connor Wright bested Alistair Forsyth by just eight seconds over the 19-kilometre course around Bold Park.

The West Australian adds another national title to his palmares, having already won junior championships across various mountain bike disciplines over the past five years.

"It's an unreal feeling. I'm sure it hasn't fully sunk in yet," Wright said.

"Coming short last year [Wright placed 7th in 2025] definitely got me hungry to take it home this year. It's super awesome, and I'm going to be representing the jersey pretty proud in Europe this year, so I'm really looking forward to that.

"To be a national champion means a lot to me. To do it in my home state, even more special − and in front of my family, which is great."

In the junior women's race, Neve Parslow led an ARA Skip Capital podium sweep, beating fellow Queenslander Megan Moore by just four seconds over the same 19-kilometre course.

"The biggest challenge was the wind, especially," Parslow said. "It was crazy windy all throughout the course and the corners going into the wind change were hard.

"I'm so happy. Everyone dreams of this, and it's amazing for it to actually come true. It's such a great experience."

Junior Women Individual Time Trial

1. Neve PARSLOW (ARA Skip Capital) 30:11.652
2. Megan MOORE (ARA Skip Capital) +4.0
3. Chloe BOWEN (ARA Skip Capital)+49.9

Junior Men Individual Time Trial

1. Connor WRIGHT (ARA Skip Capital) 25:05.992.23
2. Alistair FORSYTH (Ballarat Sebastopol) +8.2
3. Lachlan STEWART (Alpine) +12.0

Photos: Chris Auld