The 19-year old was officially named as a member of the Australian under-23 development squad at the championships - something he had known secretly for the past fortnight - which means he will travel the world competing in world cup events for a large part of this year.

He will head to Tasmania in the coming month to team up with his coach, Neil Ross, and some other members of the six-person development squad, before travelling to South America, Europe, Canada and back to Europe, all for the World Cup circuit.

Competing at Mount Stromlo for the national championships, Durie finished third in the cross-country under-23 division and fifth over the cross-country short course elite men’s race.

The Bowral rider said he was surprised by the good results as it was his first year competing in the under-23 age group and he had been back in training for only a few months after a break last year.

“I was very happy with the result, considering I would’ve been happy with a top-10 in the cross-country and a top-15 over the short course,” he said.

“It’s a big step up from the under-19s to the under-23s so I didn’t really think I could go as well as I did.”

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Friday, January 30

sport.highlandnews@ruralp ress.com