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Written by Glenys Taylor

Created: 20 November 2012

It was great to see some younger siblings joining the track cycling fraternity albeit on road bikes.

1 Lap time trial

Hamish Bryan 36.82

Fergus Bryan 38.94

Liam Ryan 39.73

Sam Byrne 40.74

Theo d’Arbois 42.97

Jayden Bond 43.87

Max Cousins 46.28

Anna Stewart 47.25

Karl Werner 48.26

James Gardner 52.61

Levi Bryan 52.71

Thomas Arbuckle 54.54

Tyler Mumby 57.10

Olivia Shearman 57.20

Ffion Barr 57.48

Read more: Results 5th November 2012 Road Bikes on Track

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Written by Glenys Taylor

Created: 15 November 2012

Thanks to our sponsor R- Line for providing Sports Electrolyte drink for competitors.

R –Line is an isotonic drink which is great for rehydrating before, refueling during and rebounding after activity. 

Tonights flavour was lemon and lime and is available for purchase from Central Bicycle Studio.

Thanks also to the helpers Matiu at the turn, Stu McKenzie for holding on the start line and calling numbers on the finish line, Kirsty for doing the countdown on the start and recording on the finish line and finally Michaela Drummond for recording on the start line and time keeping on the finish line. It was great to have some of our normal competitors helping out this week. I hope they enjoyed the experience.

Click here for full results

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Written by Glenys Taylor

Created: 19 November 2012

With the weather looking terrible and having rained for the last hour or so off and on things were looking doubtful for the Valley Rd Plus race to held on Saturday.

On arrival at Colyton hall and not a sole in sight things were looking even gloomier. Then one lone cyclist arrived – all the way from Christchurch – they must breed them tough down there. Then another arrived in a van all the way from Wanganui.

How many people do you need to run a race? A minimum of 5 I would say. And considering 4 people had registered (none of them turned up in the end) then as more riders arrived the excitement started to build. The course was described to all present and John Stewart rushed out from Palmerston to marshal at Ashhurst. Matt Levin forever reliable was sent to the turn point at the end of Valley Rd and Colin Huston was sent with photo of what the turn point just before the gravel looked like several moons ago.

Read more: Valley Rd Plus results

Details

Written by Glenys Taylor

Created: 11 November 2012

In the race description it stated “Hills, glorious hills” and that is definitely what the course offered. The A grade riders covered a distance of 66 kms leaving from Ashhurst and heading out to the turn point at the DOC station in Totara Reserve with a finish at the top of Valley Rd. The B grade completed a shorter distance to Highland Home and return. This shorter course was just as challenging for those who rode it. To be congratulated is Greg Baker who had registered as D grade but ended up riding the B grade distance.

Thanks to the helpers on the day and to John Stewart for bringing the trailer out to Ashhurst. Marshalls on Raumai Corner, Colin Huston, at Highland Home, Matt Levin and at Doc Station turn point Alex and Rebecca Denholm without you the race would not have been able to be run so a special thanks to you.

From the lookout on Valley Rd, where there is a clear mark on the road for the finish line (obviously used for many hill sprints in the past), great views back down the course are offered. The first glimpse that you get from this point is the straight on the other side of the Pohangina River. For the A grade race although normally it would have been hard to distinguish one rider from another at that distance it was obvious that Neil Martin was in the lead.  The next glimpse you get of the riders is on the Pohangina River Bridge. By the time Neil had reached the bridge another rider had come in to view on the flat. By the time Neil had reached the next point where he was in view which is after the first climb up Valley Rd the time difference between him and the second rider was down to 27 seconds. The spectators who were standing at the top by this stage were able to recognise that the second rider was Luuk van Wagtendonk but we were unsure if Luuk would be able to catch Neil by the finish line. He certainly gave his all and was able to pass Neil before he crested the point where the finish line was in sight. Congratulations to both of these riders for a hard fought battle to the line and to the rest of the riders that completed the glorious hill course.

For full results click here