Letham claims Championship title
Sam Letham showed his strength, having snuck off the front of the leading bunch in the concluding stage of the Ashburton Club and MSA, Tinwald Cycling Club Championships on Sunday, and keeping the chasing riders at bay to claim the overall championship title.
The 64km mass start event saw a group of 11 riders containing most of the pre-race favourites break away at the 25km stage and settle into their work.
Michael Templeton led the chasing group in to secure second place with Nigel Douglas taking third place overall and lifting the veteran 1 title.
Tony Ward was in the thick of the finish securing vet 2 championship honours.
First women home, Rachel Thow worked hard to get into the led bunch and deservedly secured the overall women’s and vet 1 championship titles. Kristine Marriott took second place honours from third place getter Janice Crawford, who claimed the women’s vet 3 honours.
Paul Macfie continued his strong season to claim the men’s vet 3 title with the evergreen Don Morrison picking up vet 4 honours.
Lucy Kirwan was rewarded for her solid effort taking the women’s vet 2 spoils.
Sealed handicap honours went to Jamie Robertson, who put in a strong effort to get into the led group. Ross Templeton claimed the second place spoils with Marty Cuttle right by his side securing third place.
The under 17s and division 2 competed over 20km.
Mathew Clough proved too strong for his competitors, riding off the front to take the under 17 and overall junior Club title.
Ryan Jackson got the jump on the chasing group to take second place with James Skinner rounding out the top three boys’ placings.
Connie Davidson saved her best for the big occasion sprinting in with the boys to take the girls under 17 title.
Janette Hooper claimed Division 2 honours in a sprint finish with second place getter Andy Skinner. Kerry Clough was hot on their tail in third.
The under 15’s contested a 16km event.
Oliver Davidson made it a good day for the Davidson stable taking the under 15 title in a tight sprint to the line with second place getter Ethan Titheridge. Luke Skinner pulled out one of his best rides of the season to take third place.
Maddie Lowry had too many guns in the girls’ ranks getting home strongly to take the championship title. Suzie Leech continued her good form to take second place with Madison Clark storming into third place.
Late start to season no barrier to Douglas
A late start to the season did not hold Nigel Douglas back from recording a hard earned victory in Tinwald Cycling Club’s, David Smith Surveying Ltd, Chicago Joes, 52km handicap event around the Chertsey block on Sunday.
Riding off the break mark, Douglas and his co-markers worked hard to make their way through the field, finding the front inside the last 13km.
It was Douglas who had enough in reserve for the final kick to the line to edge out second place getter Michael Gallagher.
Paul Macfie, who is starting to find some good form leading into next week’s Club Championships, claimed the third place spoils.
Leeston visitor, Steve Caldwell secured fourth place with Dave Knight and Rob Hooper rounding out the top six.
Scratch rider, Michael Templeton lifted fastest time honours riding the course in 75.55. Co-markers Hamish McDonald and Tony Ward secured second and third time.
The juniors and division 2 competed in a 13km handicap event.
The ever-consistent pocket rocket Maddie Lowry took the win after a ding-dong battle with her co-marker Mathieson Colquhoun. The result was only settled in the sprint to the line.
Dylan Leech backed up his recent good form to take third place, edging his sister Suzie into fourth place.
Connie Davidson and Jenna Borthwick rounded out the top six with Jenna covering the distance in 24.21 to take fastest time honours from Oliver Davidson and Maddie Lowry.
Janette Hooper took the division 2 spoils.
Next week the Club will contest one of its blue ribbon events with Club titles up for grabs in the 64km event around the Wakanui Beach block.
Leary holds on to take the win
Nigel Leary, the solo front maker, dug deep to keep the chasing groups at bay to take victory in Tinwald Cycling Club’s, Niagara Saw Milling, McDonalds Family Restaurant, 48km handicap event around the Grahams Road block on Sunday.
With a number of groups coming together in the final stages, the charge was on to catch Leary but he was in no mood to relinquish the lead, and found the finish line with a minute to spare.
Alex Crawford continued his good form to win the bunch sprint and secure the second place spoils.
Andrew Shepherd, sporting a Movember moustache, was hot on his tail to claim the final podium position.
Dave Shurrock, Doug Coley, and Don Sutton were in the thick of the finish to round out the top six.
Tony Ward rode the course in 72.37 to take time honours from co-marker Michael Templeton, with Myles O’Donnell securing third time.
The juniors and division 2 contested a 16km handicap race.
Scratch marker Ryan Jackson rode through the field to take the victory and fastest time honours covering the distance in 31.22.
Maddi Lowry showed plenty of fight to take second place with Mathieson Colquhoun storming into third place.
Amy Stilgoe-Rooney continued her great progress in the sport with a solid fourth place followed by Daniel Marshall and Alex Holmes.
Kerry Clough won the battle of division 2 taking the win from Janette Hooper, who recorded fastest time honours.
Next week the Club travels to Chertsey to contest a 52km handicap event.