On what felt like a breathless sunny evening the time trials saw a lot of new riders to this years series.

Fifty five riders set off to test themselves against their previous best time or set a PB. Some riders were even returning before the last of the riders were set off.

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A light zephyr of a breeze and a crystal clear blue sky welcomed all 32 Track Cyclists to Johnston Park Velodrome on Tuesday night. With the Tour De Manawatu taking place on Sunday the organisers decided to replace the Sunday afternoon meet with Tuesday night, it did mean that daylight was not as plentiful as a Sunday afternoon and so the programme had to be more compact. The programme was made up of short races followed by two record attempts offered to those that had unofficially broken the 1 lap standing start track records the weeks before followed by 2000 metre team pursuits, then finished off with long handicap races.

The weather condition this week certainly played a part in the results. Everyone who completed the 12 km time trial on the last day of October was able to improve on their previous best time – some by as much as 4 minutes.

Thanks to the helpers on the night – Kirsty Kaihau, Sean Cousins, Lenka Martin, Stu McKenzie,and Ross Rainham. Without these helpers this evening would not be able to be held.

Special thanks this week goes to Manawatu District Council and Wayne Keightly for organising the permanent signs that have now been erected for us to use on time trials night.  Hopefully next week we will have the sign at the other end of the course erected also.

There was an incident reported of a vehicle trying to force a rider off the road. If any other riders saw this incident or had problems with any vehicle can they please contact me.

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A wonderful afternoon with only a light northerly breeze, a shining sun and a higher than normal temperature allowed the 41 track cyclists and their support crews to enjoy a fantastic days track cycling at the second meet of the season. We welcomed another 9 rookie riders to the group as well as few more seasoned individuals.

 

The programme was made up of 5 or 6 lap races followed by the first round of the clubs Omnium championship with one lap standing start time trials followed by short 2 lap scratch races and then finished off with the longer handicap races. In the interests of safety and the fact that it is early in the season and the rookie riders the fields were kept to manageable 7 per race. As a measure of the quality of riders we have this year the track record for the one lap time trial was unofficially broken in three different grades, to think that this is possible at only the second meet of the season, ensures that those that come along to watch track cycling will be witness to some of the best track cycling that is available in this country.

Finally the wind had abated and some comments were even made about getting slightly red or pink if we were out in the sun too long.

That was not to be – not that the sun was not a welcome visitor but that the racing was fast and furious. A new recreational grade was created and was to be set off first before the handicap race started. These riders would have been followed by the Juniors and each of the grades at their respective handicaps.

D grade and juniors were set off followed by C grade 3 minutes later and B grade was split into B grade which left at 10mins and B+ at 14 minutes. A grade was last to leave on 16 mins 15 secs.

A pleasing result for Kim Andersen as she took out the womans race and Luuk van Wagtendonk led the charge for the line amongst a group of B and B+ riders.

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