- Details
- Written by Barry Gilliland
It is Sunday 12 December, stinking hot, and 57 riders are setting off one at a time to tackle the formidable Waihi Midsummer Madness Time Trial.
This is the toughest road time trial event in New Zealand. I make it 127km with about 1300 vertical metres of climbing. There is some great scenery…but I have to admit it is hard to fully appreciate that during the ride.
Ages range from 16 to 77. There were six women, one tandem, three teams and a whole bunch of guys racing. The team category was new and required the team members to ride together over the entire course – nice idea for first timers. There were two Palmerston North riders at the start: Jocelyn Goodwin and myself. It was clear that we would have bolted into the prize for those who travelled the furthest, but sadly the organisers had overlooked that category.
- Details
- Written by Mark Waterland
The very popular Wednesday Night Individual Time-Trial series concluded this week with the final round and prize-giving at Kairanga Hall. For BikeManawatu members who are not familiar with this series, it runs twice over the summer months in two nine week blocks, once from October to December and again from January to March. The course starts on Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Rd (at the Rongotea Rd corner and heads out for 6 km (onto Lockwood Rd) and back for a total of 12 km. Points are awarded by comparing individual riders' times between weeks - 2 points for posting a personal best, 1 point otherwise.
The most recent series was our most successful to date with over 130 unique riders taking part. The highest number of riders on a single night was 64 and on average we had approximately 45 riders. Riders range in ages from 9 years to 60 plus years, and with the points awarded on a personal best basis, every rider has a chance to top the standings.
- Details
- Written by Glenys Taylor
Track Cycling
Considering the less than stellar weather conditions with a fragrant easterly wind
and a cool overcast sky the 23 riders entertained the chilled crowd with some
close racing and some even closer finishes. The first race up was to set the scene
with 12 green and enthusiastic riders staying in a tight bunch until the last 150
meters of their 6 lap warm up race with all riders making a charge from all parts
of the track for the finish line. The eventual winner, Jordan Castle started the
final 150 meters at the rear of the bunch with the only daylight available on the
outside of the bunch and close to the fence, he rose from the seat and assumed
the sprinters position and proceeded to take the longest way home around the
entire field to pip Kelsi Eccles on the line with a blanket able to cover all starters.
The rest of the programme had equally entertaining miss n’ out and handicap
races. The night also had 5 riders attempt track records with two new records set
over the flying 200m distance. Megan Blatchford smashed the senior woman’s
mark by 1.58 seconds with a time of 13.86 seconds and Brent Zimmerman
equally dominant in knocking 1.36 seconds from the masters 2 time.
The A and B grade miss n’ out race began with a field of 11 riders and on the
completion of each lap the rider caught at the rear of the field is eliminated from
the race until the field is reduced to four riders then it becomes a one lap race to
the line. This race captivates the crowd as they can see riders making surges for
the line when the riders can’t, as for safety reasons they must only look ahead
and not behind, this results in riders thinking they are safe when only the chasing
rider and the crowd can see how vulnerable they are to elimination. This goes on
for each lap and only to be stopped by an all out four rider one lap dash for the
line.
It is pleasing to see the riders improve in ability and fitness over this early stage
of the season thanks in no small way to being able to compete every Tuesday
night. The night was also marked by the recognition and farewell of Lachie
Ferguson, acknowledging his rider of the night award for last week and wishing
him well for his future in Rockhampton Australia. Lachie received the latest
Kennet brothers cycling book ‘Louise Sutherland- Spinning the Globe”.
These are the results:
Rider of the night as selected by Denise Brown was Jordan Castle because of his
gutsy efforts in all of his racing on the night including missing the track record in
the 200m by only .09 seconds.
Under 15’s and Under 17 girls 6 laps
1st Jordan Castle
2nd Kelsi Eccles
3rd Campbell Stewart
4th Joshua Kendall
A and B Grade 7 laps
1st Megan Blatchford
2nd Steve Stannard
3rd Brent Zimmerman
4th Ross Castle
Under 15’s and Under 17 girls 2 lap handicap
Heat 1
1st Robert Stannard
2nd Micaela Drummond
3rd Ruby Perry
4th Brittany Ingram
Heat 2
1st Jordan Castle
2nd Liam Barber
3rd Elizabeth Stannard
4th Catherine Young
A and B grade Miss and Out
1st Jaycob Humphreys
2nd George Roberts
3rd Sean Whitehouse
4th Jonty Hapeta
200 metre flying time trials
Megan Blatchford
Brent Zimmerman
Campbell Stewart
13.86 seconds (new record)
15.44 seconds (old record)
13.62 seconds (new record)
14.98 seconds (old record)
15.87 seconds
14.45 seconds (existing record)
15.33 seconds
13.90 seconds (existing record)
13.99 seconds
13.09 seconds (existing record)
Under 15 and under 17 girls 3 lap scratch race
1st Kate Stewart
2nd Ruby Perry
3rd Kelsi Eccles
4th Michaela Drummond
Under 15 boys
1st Jordan Castle
2nd Campbell Stewart
3rd Joshua Kendall
4th Robert Stannard
A and B Grade 3 lap scratch race
1st Sean Whitehouse
2nd Megan Blatchford
3rd Mike McMinn
Under 15’s and under 17 girls 9 lap handicap race
1st Jordan Castle
2nd Campbell Stewart
3rd Kelsi Eccles
4th Kate Stewart
A & B Grade 18 lap Handicap
1st Steve Stannard
2nd Sean Whitehouse
3rd Megan Blatchford
4th Jaycob Humphreys
- Details
- Written by Catriona Pirie
PALMERSTON NORTH MARIST CYCLING CLUB
RACE RESULTS – BENNETT STREET SPRINTS – 11 December 2010
This was the final Palmerston North Marist Cycling Club race as the club becomes part of Bike Manawatu from 1 January 2011.
The Sprint Cup returned to Bennett Street, Palmerston North, and was this year contested by 15 riders. Each rider did a timed seeding lap and from these times A and B grades were formed. Riders then rode 2 up with the best of each pair going through to the next round and the other rider competing in the repechage. The finals were raced over the best of 3 sprints. The right lane was the lane of choice, as the surface was much smoother, so some lanes were decided on the toss of a coin.
- Details
- Written by Colin Anderson
Firstly congrats to all who rode their chosen distance @ Taupo, and achieved their personal targets, the weather gods certainly shone down again this year.
I arrived @ Taupo with a day up my sleeve so I could mix my Hammer foods, freeze some and generally fine tune my hopeful lap splits- planning is about as important as the training etc, especially when riding unsupported. My only disappointment was when I read the Taupo Newspaper to hear of a rider doing the Extreme with a support crew of 18,- 3 - to ride with him each lap. Suffice to say I had a wee discussion with this *ironman* at the registration. What eventuated I’m not sure…