Kennedy takes Victory
Mark Kennedy timed his charge to the line to perfection to claim the major spoils in Tinwald Cycling Club's, ACL, RX Plastics, 32km handicap event around the WakanuiBeach block on Sunday.
Kennedy and his co-markers set about their work in a growing breeze keeping the fast finishing chasers at bay by a slender 5 seconds.
Colin Teahen secured second place with Brian Ellis filling the third place podium spot.
Alan Johns, Ben Sutton, and Gene Shurrock rounded out the top six.
Alex Hooper, fresh from a break through podium finish in the elite race series, rode the course in 43.39 to secure fastest time honours from co-markers Tony Ward and Nigel Douglas.
The juniors and division 2 contested a 16km handicap event.
Jenna Borthwick showed her strength to take the win in the junior section and in doing so lift the Bushell Memorial Rose bowl. Matheson Colquhoun charged into second place with Maddie Lowry showing plenty of fight to keep the chasing scratch riders at bay to take third place.
Jessie Banks and James Skinner filled fourth and fifth places respectively and in doing so also claimed the top two fastest time honours riding the course in 32.32.
Andrew Colquhoun took the win in division 2 seeing off the challenge of Andy Skinner with Janette Hooper and Nicole Ellis rounding out the top four.
Next week the Club will contest a 38km handicap event around a Wakanui - Hakatere course.
Season Pipe Opener
The Tinwald Cycling Club kicked off its summer season of road racing on Sunday with the Everyprint : Health 2000 graded scratch races around the Christies Road block.
With 70 riders participating over a number of grades racing was competitive with close finishers the order of the day.
"A" grade saw a strong field boosted by outer town riders looking for a solid hit before next weekends Christchurch's Elite series race.
It was local riders however who filled the top 3 positions with Michael Templeton proving to strong in the charge to the line taking victory over Steve Hands and Tony Ward. The 36km was covered in 52.34.
Wayne Clement secured "B" grade honours holding on in the sprint to the line from Timaru visitors Glenn Marshall and Trevor Prattley riding the course in 56.43
"C" grade saw a tight finish with a number of riders putting themselves in the mix for victory over the 27km distance. It was Mark Smitheram who lifted the cup riding the distance in 45.09, from Geoff Rhodes and Gene Shurrock.
Nicole Hands rode strongly to take the "D" grade spoils with a hard fought sprint to the line with her co-markers riding the course in 51.22. John Harcourt charged into second place with Colin Teahen in third place.
The "A" juniors contested an 18km scratch race. Bailey O'Donnell had a good hit out leading into next weeks junior Tour of Southland, taking the win from his younger brother Abe who is also heading south. Cameron Prattley rode strongly to secure third place from James Skinner and Oliver Davidson.
Ethan Titheridge opened his season account with a hard fought win over Jake Marshall and Maddi Lowry in the 9km "B" grade event.
Next week the Club will contest a 32km handicap event around the Wakanui Beach block.
HOOD SAVES BEST FOR LAST
Bill Hood held out all challengers to take line honours in Tinwald Cycling Club's final race of the season, the Ashburton Trust, 80km Mid Canterbury Championships raced at Wakanui on Saturday.
Hood and his co-marker found the front 45km into the race. With the back markers making strong head way into their lead, Hood made a brave solo 35km bid for glory holding out the chasing riders to claim victory.
Timaru visitor Glen Marshall led in a solid group of riders to secure the second place spoils. Michael Gallagher was rewarded for a top ride to take the final podium position.
The evergreen Neil Wylie showed he can match it with the best taking fourth place and in doing so claimed veteran three fastest time honours.
Fifth place getter Kristine Marriott displayed her class claiming the overall fastest women's honours to round out a top season.
Fastest time honours went to Michael Templeton holding out a strong group of scratch riders, covering the course in a quick 1.54.53.
Tony Ward took second time honours and in doing so secured veteran two time honours with Brad Hudson taking third time.
Michelle Davidson produced a great ride to take veteran 2 women time honours with Shona Proctor building on her good track form to lift veteran 3 women's time honours.
Dave Shurrock delivered his best ride of the season to lift veteran 4 time honours.
Ryan Jackson rounded out his first season of bike racing in fine form claiming the u17 champions title with the well performed Ben Sutton taking fastest time honours over the 32km course.
The u15 title completed over 16km was hard fought with Bella Roulston riding strongly off the front to keep the chasing riders at bay. Connie Davidson charged into second place with Abe O'Donnell continuing his strong season taking the third place spoils.
Fourth placer getter Jessie Banks continues to impress and was rewarded for a top year on the bike with fastest time honours just ahead of Bailey O'Donnell.
Brian Ellis and Janette Hooper continued their weekly division 2 battle with a dead heat finish.