Bike Manawatu Track Cyclists Dominate 2013 Age Grade Track Nationals

Despite the current ‘cost of living challenges’ facing all community events, Bike Manawatu is 100% committed to ensuring the 51st year of the Novice Tour – once again provides a safe, fun, competitive cycle racing event.

We will adopt a high-quality assured approach in implementing the Local Roading Authority’s/Cycling New Zealand’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) standards which ensure best practices and rider and spectator safety.

If the level of community funding secured is not sufficient to contract in external road management service providers with the ability to stop/go traffic, the Novice Tour will proceed on a ‘local club racing’ model, whereby our team of trained/experienced road marshals will, where necessary, pause racing in order to give way to traffic and ensure rider safety.

Although funding external road management services with the ability to stop/go traffic is ideal, if this is not feasible – we are confident that the event’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) will provide a competitive, fair, enjoyable and importantly safe racing environment.

Irrespective of which model of traffic management/racing is finalised, as with all CNZ/Bike Manawatu events, normal road rules will apply and a full rider briefing confirming the event rules will be provided to all riders prior to the start of each race.

A large contingent of Bike Manawatu members made up one of WCNI’s largest track teams to contest the 2013 Age Grade Track Nationals in Invercargill last week.

The team consisted of a mixture of new and experienced track cyclists who all exceeded personal goals during the week and again we managed to see our juniors succeed on the back of a sound school cycling program, extensive club track events and the tremendous coaching and support given by Mike McRedmond, Ian Gray and numerous other people who volunteered their time to mentor our young riders.

Bike Manawatu can now add the following national champions to their already proud history of high performing track cyclists:

________________________________________

Libby Arbuckle Under 15 Girls – 500 metre Individual Track Champion

Emily Shearman Under 15 Girls – 750 metre Derby Champion

Campbell Stewart Under 17 Boys – Sprint Champion

Under 17 Boys – Points Champion

Under 17 Boys – Scratch Champion

Under 17 Boys – Individual Pursuit Champion

Campbell Stewart, Cody Simpson, and Josh Kendall – Under 17 Boys – Team Sprint Champions.

Campbell Stewart, Josh Kendall, Chris Denholm, and Carne Groube – Under 17 – Team Pursuit Champions.

______________________________________

Campbell Stewart dominated the Under 17 Age Grade in his first year in this very competitive group.

Not to be outdone by young Campbell, Dad John Stewart competed in the Masters 2 Grade for the first time and took home a bronze medal in a very exciting points race and narrowly missed another bronze in the scratch race. Johnny definitely knows how to get the WCNI supporters out of their seats. There’s plenty of competition in the Stewart house now and we look forward to seeing Kate Stewart back from illness soon.

Micheala Drummond competed in the tough Under 17 Girls competition for the first time and won a host of medals. She gained one silver and four bronze medals in her individual events. This was a superb effort for her first year racing Under 17’s and she will be hard to beat next year.

We must also send a huge thank you to Adam Curry and his partner Gemma of Central Bicycle Studio who produced our awesome WCNI team t-shirts. These were worn by all competitors when not racing, all handlers and coaches and every supporter up cheering in the stands. We even managed to get Southlands commentator into one much to the Southlanders disgust. They made our team look very professional and I’m sure that also helped bring the team together.

Lastly to the parents…the loudest support crew by far! Without your committment to your children none of this would ever be achieveable.