by Bike Manawatu | Aug 31, 2025 | News, Road Results
Great turn out for the Bike Manawatu Road Race Champs this morning. The decision to move to a flatter course was well received with good numbers considering the weather forecast 3 days ago.
Sometimes we just need to back ourselves and run the planned event and that happened today. Credit and thanks to Janina and Jo behind the scenes with Sam Richardson again running registration and timing. Unfortunately the forecast changed considerably overnight and the rain arrived at 10.00am.
3 bunch starts worked a treat, everyone rode extremely well and produced great racing. A few shout outs that can’t go unrecognised. The welcome return of Jack Pronk, Wilson Hannon and Zach Hintz in the 19-23 age group. The dads that have been improving every race and contributing to the club and also the girls who rode a high tempo TTT for the 30kms.
Plenty of helpers on the day. Aaron Hill, Jonathon Hannon, Phil Riley, Lenka Martinova, Marty Baker, Darren Sharland, Ross O’Dea….huge thanks for making the event possible.
Results can be found HERE
September 14 we have the Team and Individual TT on the Rongotea northern course, and the week after is Schools nationals.
There were 3 jackets, a pair of glasses and other items left in the hall. Please PM Tim.
As great and positive as this all is, and with the club moral growing by the week, it’s with immense sadness to be informed that past BM Chairman and powerhouse of the NZ cycling community Steve Stannard succumbed to cancer and passed away over night in Australia. Steve was a fighter and gave everything he did in life 100%. Our thoughts are with Katherine, Robert, Lizzie and Thomas and all his friends and colleagues.
by Bike Manawatu | Aug 22, 2025 | News
Hoping we will be done with this cold winter that has gripped us this year. We have avoided most to the big wet but the cold mornings have been a bit to conquer.
As a Club we have been pushing on with having racing through the winter on the back of a very successful 6 Hour at Manfeild.
There’s been a good variation with some new courses to spice things up a little. The first weekend of August was host to the 52nd running of the Novice Tour, most entries in many years and another very successful event.
Our Junior programme with mentors invited to ride with the Year 7 and 8 riders has been a huge success, some parents moving on to race in their own categories.
Kapiti Cycling club have once again run a great winter series which is frequented by our local riders. Round 3 last weekend saw Garry Buys race for the first time in many years. Supporting him in D grade were Wayne Fage and Rob Ryan.
Inspired by this there’s been a decision made to shift our Club Champs on August 31st to our Glen Oroua circuit. We have raced there earlier in the year and whilst predominately flat, it is still a worthy course.
We must cater for every skill and age for us to function as a club. There will be a WCNI race and the resurrection of the Joey Allan that will satisfy the vertical needs of the elite, in our view encouraging the grass roots with doable circuits is key.
All age grades will be recognised, and there will be 3 mass starts. Click HERE to register for Club Road Champs.
Kapiti riders travel up here on September 21st to join our Sunday morning Memorial park ride, reciprocal arrangements will follow we are sure.
With Road race champs done we will be looking at securing a venue for our Hill climb and maybe a new ITT course. We have made initial enquiries about a Criterium track close to the inner city. All these will happen before the end of the year.
It’s not unusual for locals to head overseas to compete. Glenn Kirk and Rob Duff are famous for it. Just today Cliff Hughes wrapped up a win in the 4 day Tour of Samoa.
Tough opposition and rumour is it’s ruffled a few feathers.
Take the opportunity to race, enjoy the challenge, spring is on the way!
by Bike Manawatu | Aug 17, 2025 | News, Road Results
Overall a successful first run with our new Northern TT course. These new courses and events don’t just happen overnight. Leading in to schools nationals in late September there was an appetite for change to use the prevailing wind to our advantage, avoid magpies, declutter the southern course.
The Northern course will give a prevailing tail wind up towards the turn and head down hill to the finish.
The winds were the other way round today , made it tough, we did dodge the weather, and there’s another potential road course on the cards.
Unfortunately the Girls High Junior team tripped over themselves which ended up with 3 cracked helmets and a few stitches. They are made of tough stuff and will be back better and faster.
Huge thanks to the ever present Sam and Laura Richardson for doing the timing. Marshals Ross O’Dea, his father Erin O’Dea, Phil Riley, Kirsty Armstrong who ended up playing mum to many. Please appreciate our volunteers on the day. Many thanks to the group behind the scenes that keep coming up with this stuff.
Click HERE for results.
Club Road race champs in 2 weeks.
by Bike Manawatu | Jul 27, 2025 | News, Road Results
Another ripper morning at Taonui loops today. Great turn out and great to see the Skinner brothers, Darren Murdie, Mark Hudson and Blair Christian backing up from racing in Kapiti the day before. Joy Vanderpoel and Thomas Stannard are now frequent contributors. Kudos also to the great group of girls who continue to step up.
Once again huge thanks to Laura and Sam Richardson for Timing, Ross O’Dea and Shohn Wormgoor for Marshalling and Phil Riley for support. The range of abilities and ages that are racing in our club is what we are all about.
Behind all of these events is our secretary Janina Gapper. She’s amazing.
Link to results: RESULTS A1 Loops 27.07.25
Novice Tour next weekend. We do need more volunteers to assist with multiple roles so please contact Mike Craine or Tim Lloyd through the club email address secretary@bikemanawatu.co.nz or call them.
by Bike Manawatu | Jul 20, 2025 | News, Road Results
Great morning out this morning! Many thanks to the Richardson timing crew, Jonathon Hannon, Jos Calder and Ross O’Dea for their excellent assistance again today.
Awesome to see Wiremu and Matiu Kaihau, Patrick Johnstone make a welcome return and Joy Vanderpoel. Some great stories out there on course which was a beautiful morning for a TT.
Results can be found here: https://www.webscorer.com/racedetails?raceid=398340&did=531498
Next week we are back at A1 Loops building up to Novice Tour the week after for our juniors. Any assistance would be much appreciated.
Registration for A1 Loops on 27 July: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=396522
If you are able to help out, please register as “Volunteer”. Thank You!
