Hands shows class
Steve Hands topped off a stellar first half of the Tinwald Cycling Clubs season, scoring victory in the Ashburton Club and MSA Super Liquor, Club Championships contested over 64km around the Wakanui Beach block on Sunday.
The odds on favourite made his decisive move on the final rise of the 4 lap event and soloed the last 4km to victory.
Hands covered the distance in 92.08.
Hands along with second place getter Brad Hudson, third place getter Larry Neal, and vet 3 men’s winner Tony Ward had earlier snuck of the front of the race on the first lap.
The chasing group contained vet 2 men’s champion Mike Gallagher, along with senior men’s title holder Cole Harris.
Kristine Marriott was in the thick of this bunch, producing her trade mark tough ride, to lift the open women’s championship title.
Sam Cuttle continued his solid built up for the Coast to Coast, lifting the under 19 title.
Paul Williams capped off his recent good form, securing vet 4 men’s championship honours.
Marcel Smithers continued her hot start to the season claiming the vet 1 women’s ribbon, with Michelle Knight securing the senior women’s major spoils.
Liz Wylie was rewarded for a great rode lifting the vet 4 women’s title.
Wayne Whiting rode strongly to secure sealed handicap honours.
The juniors raced for Club championship honours over 16km.
Mitch Brookland showed his dominance securing an all the way victory in the under 17 grade. Mitch rode the course in 27.02.
Maddi Lowry ensured her last race in junior ranks would be a memorable one, claiming the under 17 girls title.
Zoe Spillane continues to impress, rounding out a good first half of the season with the under 15 championship ribbon.
Zac Brookland topped off a good day for the Brookland stable taking the under 15 boys title.
Ryan Gallagher rode a super race to lift sealed handicap honours.
Paul Brake took the bragging rights in division 2, getting up over his wife Monique in a tough sprint finish.
Kyla Smith secured the final podium position.
Merv Grewar finished the year of with the sealed handicap envelope.
The Club will take a break over Christmas and kick the New Year off with a 36km handicap event around the Winchmore Church block on 10 January 2021.
Smitheram has final say
A week out from one of Tinwald Cycling Club’s blue-ribbon events, the Club Championships, riders contested the McIntosh Group, 60km handicap event around the Blackbridge block on Sunday.
Mark Smitheram was rewarded for some good recent form, taking victory in a hard fought three up sprint to the line to lift the Eddie Ward Shield.
Co-marker Marcel Smithers also continued her stellar season securing the second place spoils and receiving the Chris Ward Cup for the first lady home.
Paul Williams produced his best hit out of the season to date to claim the final podium position.
Wayne Whiting led the chasing bunch in to take fourth spot.
John Uden and Nick Grijns were in the thick of the finish to round out the top six places.
Scratch marker Steve Hands laid down another strong ride to claim fastest time honours, riding the course in 84.43.
Co-markers Tony Ward and Kyle Gray secured second and third time respectively.
A good field of juniors and division 2 riders contested a 20km handicap event.
Mitch Brookland had a great day, riding through from the back mark to take the win and record the fastest time, riding the distance in 34.08.
Zoe Spillane also produced a top ride, catching all bar Mitch on her way to second place.
Tegan Marriott had a stand out ride to hold on bravely to secure the third place spoils.
Hot on her heels was ever consistent Ryan Gallagher, with Honor Bradford and Penny Marriott filling the top six positions.
Division 2 saw Kyla Smith having her first hit of the season take the win and fastest time honours in a tight finish from Janette Hooper and Debbie Skinner.
Next week the Club will race for Club Championship titles around the Wakanui Beach block.
A Day for the Ladies
The ladies accounted for the top four spots in Tinwald Cycling Clubs, McDonalds Family Restaurant, 48km handicap event around the Grahams Road block on Sunday.
Emma Hudson produced a strong four up sprint to the line to secure the victory.
Rachel Reid charged into second place, rounding out a solid week of training.
Front markers Liz Wylie and Helen Bancroft continued their staller season, claiming third and fourth places respectively.
Christchurch visitor Quinten Lawler, and Mark Smitheram rounded out the top six.
Kyle Gray lifted the Aaron Stewart Memorial Cup having produced the fastest time of the day, riding the distance in 70.19.
Nigel Douglas and Andrew McKenzie took second and third time.
The juniors and division 2 competed over 16km.
Charlotte Neal pulled out a top shelf ride to take the win and lift the major spoils.
Back marker Ryan Gallagher was hot on her tail, securing second place and fastest time honours, riding the course in 35.08.
Debbie Skinner had the final say in the sprint to the line to take division 2 honours from husband Andy Skinner, and Janette Hooper.
Next week the Club will contest a 60km handicap event around the Blackbridge block.