First day report from Club Road 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.
George Hewitt made history today when he was the first ever para trike rider competing at the Club road nationals
Michaela Drummond competing in the under 17 girls time trial over a distance of 15km won the bronze medal in a time of 25mins 26 secs with the other Bike Manawatu riders in this age category Libby Arbuckle placing 6th and Emily Shearman in 12th.
In the under 19 girls Ruby Perry finished in 4th place in a time of 23.59 with Elizabeth Stannard finishing in 9th.
Barry Gilliland competed in the Masters 6 men and placed 5th in a time of 23mins 56 secs
In the under 17 boys Campbell Stewart won the gold in a time of 22mins 03 with Robert Stannard taking out the silver. Jacob Seivwright was placed 11th and Carne Groube 13th Mitchell Kinghorn 14th Chris Denholm 16th and Fergus Allan 22nd.
In the masters women 4 Megan Blatchford-Peck won the silver and in the masters women 3 Shaz Dagg was 6th with Gabrielle Bahler winning a bronze medal in the masters women 1 age category.
In the masters men 4 category Nev Weir who jumped ship and was racing for Wellington Vets finished 5th
Finally with the under 19 boys Joel Yates finished 10th, Nate Levin 14th, Alex West 15th, George Roberts 21st, James Denholm 27th and Josh Kendall 34th.
Congratulations to all that competed and particularly to the medal winners.
Good luck for the road races over the next few days.
