LOWE SHOWS GOOD FORM
Building on his recent good form in the Calder Stewart elite race series, Stu Lowe secured victory in Tinwald Cycling Club’s, ACL, Small Business Accounting (SBA), 32km handicap event around the Wakanui Beach block on Sunday.
A good field of riders went to the starting line in the grey “spring like” weather conditions.
Lowe and his fellow scratch markers found the front of the race in the concluding stages.
Lowe attacked with 4km to go, establishing a break that his co-markers were unable to close. Steve Hands found the line strongly to secure second place honours.
Alex Hooper claimed the final podium position with Darrell Kircher, Tony Ward, and Nigel Douglas rounding out the top six places.
Lowe’s efforts also saw him claim fastest time honours, riding the course in 45.47.
With a large number of junior riders competing in the Junior Tour of Southland and inclement weather, there was no junior race.
Next week the Club will contest a 38km handicap event around the Wakanui – Hakatere course.
Tinwald Cycling Club kicks off season
The Tinwald Cycling Club kicked off the 2017-18 summer season with a grade scratch race around the Christys Road block on Sunday.
A good field of riders took the opportunity to blow out the cob webs with spirited racing across all grades.
“A” and “B” grade contested the Health 2000 – Dpi EmbriodMe, 36km event, while “C” and “D” grade raced over 27km.
Michael Templeton carried his good form over from last season, claiming victory in “A” grade, in a tight sprint finish. Alex Hooper secured second place with Tony Ward taking the final podium position.
“B” grade was hotly contested with the majority of the grade in the hunt leading into the finish.
Kristine Marriott produced the best sprint of the bunch to take the major spoils. Rob Hooper held onto second place, with the fast charging Ross Templeton in third.
“C” grade saw a split in the field late in the race, with five riders getting away.
Don Sutton saw off the challengers in the charge to the line, to secure the win. John Uden was hot on his tail to claim second place, with Hugh Copland producing a strong ride to take third.
Aimee Elliott showed her strength with a solid sprint to take the win in “D” grade. Richard Begg was in the thick of the finish to claim second place with Matt Caldwell taking out the third place spoils.
The junior “A” grade competed over 18km.
Ethan Titheridge nudged out his sister, Caitlin Titheridge in the closest finish of the day, to lift the winner’s trophy. Maddie Lowry claimed the third place spoils.
Emma Lowry rode a strong race to secure the 9km junior “B” grade title.
Next week the Club will contest a 36km handicap event around the Wakanui Beach block.
KIRWAN HAS THE LAST SAY
Richard Kirwan brought his “A” game to the table when it mattered the most, securing the victor’s spoils in Tinwald Cycling Club’s last race of the season, the Mid-Canterbury Cycling Championship.
The 80km handicap event raced around the Wakanui Beach block on Saturday saw a strong field of riders go to the start, all looking for line and age group fastest time honours.
Kirwan and his co-markers found the front of the race with 10km remaining but had to dig deep to ensure the fast approaching chasing bunches didn’t swamp them in the shadows of the finishing post.
Kirwan secured the win with a powerful late charge out wide, pipping international rider, Irishman Coleman Burke, backing up from celebrating St Patrick’s Day, on the line.
Don Sutton continued his stellar season storming into third place.
Michelle Davidson’s late season good form earned her fourth place and women’s veteran 2 fastest time honours.
Don Morrison had another solid day taking fifth place, with sixth place getter Michelle Knight lifting the senior women’s fastest time honours.
Back in the field riders were vying for fastest time honours.
Nigel Douglas secured the men’s vet 1 spoils, with the vet 3 ribbon going to Christchurch visitor Brent Cowie, while Bruce McClelland put his good block of recent training to good use claiming vet 4 honours.
Pam Harcourt saw off all challengers to take the women’s vet 4 ribbon.
A competitive race was developing for the women’s overall fastest time honours. Rachel Thow had the final say in the charge to the line to lift the overall fastest time and vet 1 titles, with Kristine Marriott taking the second place spoils.
Bailey O’Donnell built on his good season, claiming the u19 title.
A good group of back markers went to the line, but it was Stu Lowe who had the legs to break away late in the race and hold out the chasing group to secure the men’s vet 2 title and overall fastest time honours, covering the distance in 113.31.
The juniors and division 2 raced over 16km.
Hayden Jefferson capped off a great first season on the road bike securing the under 17 and fastest time cup and ribbon.
Jack Templeton also made his first season of racing a memorable one taking the under 15 title and boys fastest time honours.
Lily Davidson was second while third place getter Maddie Lowry continues to impress securing the girls fastest time ribbon.
Janette Hooper finished the season on a high note taking division 2 honours from Brian Ellis, with Shona McGrath-Proctor securing time honours.