by Vaughan Hunt | Sep 19, 2013 | Event Reports
As the handicapper in last year’s Joe Allen race I was a bit embarrassed that we had a top-notch scratch bunch who worked like Trojans, but didn’t get anywhere near winning. It made it worse that I was in the scratch bunch with a bit of form!
A good handicap race is one where all the bunches come together in the last 5 to 10% of the race distance. The Joe Allen is a bit different, because the last third of the race is downhill or flat, so providing there is no strong cross wind, many B and C riders would be able to hook onto scratch as they come through and be in the mix for the overall win. This year’s race was a bit closer to that ideal…
The limit riders (D grade) were a small group, and although they had half an hour on scratch, the group size and wind direction (Sth Easterly) meant that they’d be caught at some point on the way home.
(more…)
by Vaughan Hunt | Sep 16, 2013 | Event Reports
Tough little event today, the first ever XC Eliminator was held as part of Feilding Festival of Cycling.
A lung burning fun short course based at the velodrome in friendly Feilding.
Start and finish was on the tarmac of the velodrome,with the circuit on a mixture of power sapping grass, soft sand and shingle of the Oroua River bank, a touch of single track breaking out onto a potholed gravel road.
(more…)
by Glenys Taylor | Sep 8, 2013 | Event Reports
Results from 3rd Interclub with CHB
(more…)
by Glenys Taylor | Sep 5, 2013 | Event Reports
A small field of riders turned up at Colyton for the Smooth and Wrinkly. Not sure whether the Under 35 riders were daunted by the fact that thye would have to ride with someone with wrinkles or whether they had more important things on their agendas for the day. Or perhaps they were overtired after a late night out the previous night at the Awards dinner.
Samara and Wayne Fenn were first off. Finish time 1 hour 17 mins 15 sec.
Unfortunately due to lack of under 35 riders we had to send to wrinklies off together. Katherine Stannard and visitor Tim Tyler finished with a net time of 1 hour 16 mins and 13 secs
They were followed by Thomas Stannard and Peter O’Sullivan. Their net finish time was 1 hour 13 mins and 48 secs
The van Lienen father and son team of John and Jake finished the 34km Valley Rd course in a net time of 1 hour 12mins and 54 secs
Glen Kirk and Paddy Daly were teamed up on the day and had a good result of 57 mins but the ride of the day went to the other father and son team of Steve and Robert Stannard that finished in a time of 54 mins 11 secs
Thanks to the helpers on the day (more helpers than riders nearly ) Chris Sanson for being race manager along with Luuk van Wagtendonk and Steph Dench from Sport Manawatu. The ladies on registration and finish timing /recording Jessica Hamilton and Karen Fenn and a special thanks to Toshi for marshalling at Ashhurst and making sure everyone turned at the right corner.
by Vaughan Hunt | Aug 30, 2013 | Event Reports
A typical windy winter’s day last Saturday over at Pahiatua saw nearly 40 riders turn out for the Bike Manawatu/Central Hawkes Bay Interclub race. A sealed handicap meant that it was a mass start, and as usual, the right to left wind down the main road created carnage right from the word go.
A split quickly developed where about a dozen of the more experienced and stronger riders lapped out whilst the rest were left in a string down the road. A small group of three, including the form riders of Nate Levin, national champ Alex West, Robert Stannard, and Neil Martin then attacked off the front of that group to quickly create an 80m lead. Steve Stannard bridged just before the gap got too big, but paid for that effort on the first hill, where he was dropped going over the top. With Nate paying the price of some hard training, Robert, Neil and Alex pulled away.
(more…)
by Glenys Taylor | Aug 12, 2013 | Event Reports
The first event in what will continue to be a sport on offer in the Manawatu was held at Massey University on Sunday alongside the Striders Half Marathon. The course had been laid out with the start line at the head of the playing fields. The course continued in a zigzag fashion around the outskirts of the playing fields before the riders disappeared between the shelter hedges after first having to negotiate their way over some obstacles. Next was the hill climb before the possibility of a slippery descent and the lap completed back at the head of the fields.
According to young Adam Francis the hardest part was the log obstacle and the best part for his race was passing Sasha going up the hill. All the riders had the same start time but completed a different numbers of laps according to their grading. Cameron Howell reported that the grass section was slow but overall the race was fun.
A fine tussle unfolded between the two Stannards that were competing in the 7 lap race with the patriarch finally taking the lead in the 5th lap.
Photo thanks to Owen Mills
(more…)
As the handicapper in last year’s Joe Allen race I was a bit embarrassed that we had a top-notch scratch bunch who worked like Trojans, but didn’t get anywhere near winning. It made it worse that I was in the scratch bunch with a bit of form!