Great Racing in Cycling Season Opener
The Tinwald Cycling Club kicked the 2015/16 season off on Sunday with a graded scratch event around the Christys Road block.
Close to 70 riders across all grades took to their bikes in improving spring weather and were rewarded with some close exciting racing.
“A” and “B” grade contested a 36km course.
Timaru visitor Chris Karton sprinted the strongest to secure “A” honours from Alex Hooper and Michael Templeton, with the scratch men covering the distance in 51.22.
“B” grade also saw a grandstand finish with Christchurch rider Terry Gyde having the final say on the line edging out Kristine Marriott and Paul Macfie.
“C” and “D” grades battled over 27km.
Don Sutton pulled out a big finish in a bunch sprint to claim the major spoils in “C” grade. Grant Paine stormed into second place with Doug Coley digging deep to secure the final podium position. Sutton rode the course in 45.16.
Matt Ellis opened his season account with a good victory in “D” grade holding out Colin Teahan in a tight finish with John Harcourt charging into third place.
The juniors also contested a graded scratch event with “A” grade competing over 18km with “B” riding 9km.
Abe O’Donnell continued where he left off last season with a good win in “A” grade but not before a tight battle with the ever improving Caitlin Titheridge who claimed second place honours. Bella Roulston fought strongly to take third place edging out James Skinner in a tight finish. Abe rode the course in 30.37.
Matheson Colquhoun had to dig deep to take “B” victory in a sprint finish with Maddison Clark. Susie Leech held out her brother Dylan Leech to secure third place.
Shona Proctor saw off the challengers in the 18km Division 2 event to take the win from Janette Hooper and Andy Skinner.
Next week the Club travels to Wakanui to contest a 32km handicap event.
Weston Triumphs
Gary Weston finished the season off in the best possible way taking a hard earned victory in the Ashburton Trust, Mid Canterbury Cycling Championships on Saturday.
The handicap event raced over 80km around the WakanuiBeach block drew together a good field with riders travelling from Dunedin and Blenheim to participate.
Weston and his co-markers worked well together catching the front marker inside the last 5km and setting up a grandstand sprint finish.
Weston proved to be the strongest seeing off the game challenge of second place getter Alice Bennett who narrowly bet Christchurch visitor Mary Jones. Jones top ride earned her the veteran 3 women's fastest time honours.
Ben Sutton rounded out his first season in senior ranks with a well deserved fourth place and in doing so picked up the under 19 fastest time ribbon.
Brendon Davidson's late season surge of good form saw him secure the fifth place spoils with the ever consistent Marty Cuttle rounding out the top six.
With age group fastest time honours up for grabs there was plenty of interest back in the field with the scratch markers on the charge.
It was Alex Hooper who made the decisive move 5km from the finish riding off the front of the scratch group and maintaining a comfortable margin to the finish to claim the overall and under 23 fastest time honours riding the course in 1.52.06.
Daryl Kircher showed he still has a sprint to match the youngsters in taking second time and lifting vet 2 time honours.
Brad Hudson rounded out a good season picking up third time and securing the senior fastest time ribbon.
Christchurch visitor Rob Campfens showed he will be one to watch in coming weeks riding strongly to claim the vet 3 time title.
The evergreen Dave Shurrock lifted vet 4 time honours.
Kim Marshall produced a top shelf ride to take the women's overall and senior fastest time honours.
Kristine Marriott capped off a strong season with vet 1 time honours while Michelle Davidson saw off all challengers to secure the vet 2 time ribbon.
The juniors also raced for Mid Canterbury titles.
The under 15's competed over 16km while the under 17's and Division 2 covered 32km.
Maddison Clark rounded off a super season taking the under 15 winners spoils seeing off the challenge of the ever improving Maddy Lowry who charged into second place. Ethan Titheridge saved his best for last taking third place. Isabella Roulston, Conner Leov and Oliver Davidson rounded out the top six. Caitlin Titheridge claimed the girl's fastest time ribbon with Abe O'Donnell fresh from the NZ Track Cycling Champs taking the boys fastest time spoils.
Connie Davidson keep the chasing riders at bay to secure the under 17 title and also picked up the girl's fastest time ribbon.
Bailey O'Donnell continues to impress with a solid ride to take second place and secure the overall under 17 fastest time honours riding the course in 54.26.
James Skinner dug deep to take third place with Ryan Jackson right on his heels in fourth.
A good field of nine division 2 riders contested the final race of the season.
Brent Hudson triumphed in the group sprint beating Brian Ellis and Peter Restieaux. Liz Wylie and Janette Hooper were in the thick of the finish to claim fourth and fifth.
Back marker Drew Titheridge secured fastest time honours.
Lowry on the Charge
Doug Lowry produced a well timed sprint to secure victory in Tinwald Cycling Club's penultimate event of the season, the Templeton Motors, Kelly's Cafe and Bar, 66km handicap event around the Wakanui - Hakatere course.
Lowry was one of a solid bunch of 20 riders who came together inside the last 10km of the event. He launched his sprint in sight of the line and held on gamely to see off the challenge of second place getter Simon White.
Gene Shurrock continued his good form, storming into third place with Frances Smith producing her best Club race taking the fourth place spoils.
Paul Macfie and Neil Wylie rounded out the top six.
Scratch marker Alex Hooper secured fastest time honours riding the course in 89.49. Co-markers Nathan Tew and Sam Letham took second and third time.
The juniors and Division 2 contested a 19km handicap event.
Connie Davidson broke her season drought with a top ride to take the win from the ever-improving Ethan Titheridge.
Maddison Clark secured the final podium position with another tough effort.
Caitlin Titheridge and Isabella Roulston had a nose to nose finish with Caitlin taking fourth place by the barest of margins over Isabella.
Back marker Matt Clough produced a solid ride to secure fastest time honours riding the distance in 35.11.
Kerry Clough saw off the challenge of second place getter Andy Skinner to take the win in Division 2 with Brian Ellis securing third and fastest time.
Next week the Club hosts the Mid Canterbury Championships around the Beach Road block.