Wanganui Grand Prix
2014 NZ Omnium Nationals
On Monday 3rd of March we began our week-long trip down to Invercargill for the 2014 Age Group and Omnium Track Nationals. After a rather bumpy flight down, we soon made our way to the Birchwood Manor Motel where we would be spending the next 7 days in a great team environment. After quickly unloading some gear into our rooms we made our way down to the velodrome for the first of our training sessions. It’s always a great feeling getting back on the boards and it didn’t take long to settle into the rhythm and get some decent track time.
Tuesday was fairly quiet with a morning spin on the erg down at the track before returning later in the day for another track session focusing on our gate starts and flying laps. The rest of the day was spent keeping the legs off the ground and preparing all the gear for the start of racing the next afternoon.
2014 Omnium and Age Group Track National Championships
We left Palmerston North Airport on Monday to embark on another mission down to the deep southern town of Invercargill, just before leaving we were given a warning that the weather was not going to be on our side once we got there but that’s the beauty of an indoor velodrome, you can ride whatever the weather. After arriving it was straight to the motel to build up bikes and then we were off to the track to give it a whirl and get used to the boards. Tuesday involved more of the same which was great because for most of the riders it was either their first time on the track or they hadn’t been on the Invercargill boards since last year’s nationals.
Wednesday was the first of the 5 race days with the 500m TT in the evening. This was not my best event and so I wasn’t fussed about a bad result but was still going to give it all I had. It’s definitely a surreal experience when you’re in the start gates with only 2 people on the track and you know everyone is watching you. The countdown to the start is when the nerves really start to kick in. But I managed to block everything out and came out of the event with a pb. With Campbell Stewart finally winning the gold that has eluded him for the past 2 years.
BIKE MANAWATU – 2014 MASTERS AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
For competitors 35 years of age and over, champions to be determined for 5 year age groups, women and men, no handicap adjustments apply to times. Competitors must have entered at least 3 of the 4 events to be considered for an age group champion. An entry fee applies for each of: Track, Hill Climb and Time Trial.
Age Group Categories
35 – 39 (Category 1); 40 – 44 (Cat 2); 45 – 49 (Cat 3); 50 – 54 (Cat 4); 55 – 59 (Cat 5); 60 – 64 (Cat 6); 65 – 69 (Cat 7); 70 – 74 (Cat 8); 75 – 79 (Cat 9); 80 – 84 (Cat 10) etc.
Elite & Under 19 National Track Cycling Championships
Elite & Under 19 National Track Cycling Champs *UPDATED*
Fantastic results from BikeManawatu rider’s scoring lots of medals at the Elite & Under 19 Track National Championships at the new Avantidrome, Home of Cycling, Cambridge, 13-16th March 2014. For full results go to http://tracknationals.co.nz/
Individual Events
Jordon Castle
M19 Keirin – GOLD
M19 Sprint – SILVER
M19 1000m Time Trial – BRONZE
Kate Stewart
W19 500m Time Trial – SILVER
W19 Sprint – BRONZE
Simon van Velthooven
ME 1000m Time Trial – GOLD
ME Sprint – BRONZE
Luke Mudgway
M19 Scratch Race – GOLD
M19 20K Points Race – SILVER
M19 3000m Individual Pursuit – BRONZE
M19 Omnium – BRONZE
Team Events
Kate Stewart & Ruby Perry
W19 Team Sprint – SILVER
Jordon Castle, Josh Kendall, James Cuff
M19 Team Sprint – BRONZW