by Glenys Taylor | Nov 11, 2012 | Event Reports
In the race description it stated “Hills, glorious hills” and that is definitely what the course offered. The A grade riders covered a distance of 66 kms leaving from Ashhurst and heading out to the turn point at the DOC station in Totara Reserve with a finish at the top of Valley Rd. The B grade completed a shorter distance to Highland Home and return. This shorter course was just as challenging for those who rode it. To be congratulated is Greg Baker who had registered as D grade but ended up riding the B grade distance.
Thanks to the helpers on the day and to John Stewart for bringing the trailer out to Ashhurst. Marshalls on Raumai Corner, Colin Huston, at Highland Home, Matt Levin and at Doc Station turn point Alex and Rebecca Denholm without you the race would not have been able to be run so a special thanks to you.
From the lookout on Valley Rd, where there is a clear mark on the road for the finish line (obviously used for many hill sprints in the past), great views back down the course are offered. The first glimpse that you get from this point is the straight on the other side of the Pohangina River. For the A grade race although normally it would have been hard to distinguish one rider from another at that distance it was obvious that Neil Martin was in the lead. The next glimpse you get of the riders is on the Pohangina River Bridge. By the time Neil had reached the bridge another rider had come in to view on the flat. By the time Neil had reached the next point where he was in view which is after the first climb up Valley Rd the time difference between him and the second rider was down to 27 seconds. The spectators who were standing at the top by this stage were able to recognise that the second rider was Luuk van Wagtendonk but we were unsure if Luuk would be able to catch Neil by the finish line. He certainly gave his all and was able to pass Neil before he crested the point where the finish line was in sight. Congratulations to both of these riders for a hard fought battle to the line and to the rest of the riders that completed the glorious hill course.
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by Glenys Taylor | Nov 8, 2012 | Event Reports
On what felt like a breathless sunny evening the time trials saw a lot of new riders to this years series.
Fifty five riders set off to test themselves against their previous best time or set a PB. Some riders were even returning before the last of the riders were set off.
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by Vaughan Hunt | Nov 6, 2012 | Event Reports
A light zephyr of a breeze and a crystal clear blue sky welcomed all 32 Track Cyclists to Johnston Park Velodrome on Tuesday night. With the Tour De Manawatu taking place on Sunday the organisers decided to replace the Sunday afternoon meet with Tuesday night, it did mean that daylight was not as plentiful as a Sunday afternoon and so the programme had to be more compact. The programme was made up of short races followed by two record attempts offered to those that had unofficially broken the 1 lap standing start track records the weeks before followed by 2000 metre team pursuits, then finished off with long handicap races.
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by Vaughan Hunt | Nov 1, 2012 | Event Reports
A wonderful afternoon with only a light northerly breeze, a shining sun and a higher than normal temperature allowed the 41 track cyclists and their support crews to enjoy a fantastic days track cycling at the second meet of the season. We welcomed another 9 rookie riders to the group as well as few more seasoned individuals.
The programme was made up of 5 or 6 lap races followed by the first round of the clubs Omnium championship with one lap standing start time trials followed by short 2 lap scratch races and then finished off with the longer handicap races. In the interests of safety and the fact that it is early in the season and the rookie riders the fields were kept to manageable 7 per race. As a measure of the quality of riders we have this year the track record for the one lap time trial was unofficially broken in three different grades, to think that this is possible at only the second meet of the season, ensures that those that come along to watch track cycling will be witness to some of the best track cycling that is available in this country.
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by Glenys Taylor | Nov 1, 2012 | Event Reports
The weather condition this week certainly played a part in the results. Everyone who completed the 12 km time trial on the last day of October was able to improve on their previous best time – some by as much as 4 minutes.
Thanks to the helpers on the night – Kirsty Kaihau, Sean Cousins, Lenka Martin, Stu McKenzie,and Ross Rainham. Without these helpers this evening would not be able to be held.
Special thanks this week goes to Manawatu District Council and Wayne Keightly for organising the permanent signs that have now been erected for us to use on time trials night. Hopefully next week we will have the sign at the other end of the course erected also.
There was an incident reported of a vehicle trying to force a rider off the road. If any other riders saw this incident or had problems with any vehicle can they please contact me.
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by Glenys Taylor | Oct 29, 2012 | Event Reports
Finally the wind had abated and some comments were even made about getting slightly red or pink if we were out in the sun too long.
That was not to be – not that the sun was not a welcome visitor but that the racing was fast and furious. A new recreational grade was created and was to be set off first before the handicap race started. These riders would have been followed by the Juniors and each of the grades at their respective handicaps.
D grade and juniors were set off followed by C grade 3 minutes later and B grade was split into B grade which left at 10mins and B+ at 14 minutes. A grade was last to leave on 16 mins 15 secs.
A pleasing result for Kim Andersen as she took out the womans race and Luuk van Wagtendonk led the charge for the line amongst a group of B and B+ riders.
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