Masters Age Group Hill Climb Champs results 2014

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.

Ashhurst starting from 187 Salisbury St and heading up Saddle Rd to the same finish point as the Novice Tour the double gates on both sides of the road.

Sunday 6th April

Conditions overcast and a easterly breeze

With registrations taken and the race briefing given by Ian Gray the riders were set off at 1 minute intervals. Ian then raced off to mark the finish line and await the first riders.

This was the final of the handicap masters series to determine not only the male and female masters hill climb champs but also the last event in the Overall champ position.

Thanks to Ian and Mike Keenan for reinstating this competition. All those that have taken part in the 4 events have put the effort in, not only on the road in the events, but also by coming along to improve the numbers participating. Hopefully this will grow again next year. Cups will be presented later in the year.

And some records were broken in the hill climb so these will now also be updated.

Megan Blatchford Womens Hill Climb champ Time 22 mins 52 secs and new womens record in the 50 –54 age group previously held by Sandra Alve set in 2000

Nev Weir also set a new record for the 50 – 54 age group with a time of 16 mins 49 secs beating the previous record set by Barry Gilliland in 2002

Barry was able to set a new record for the 60 – 64 age group with a time of 17mins 46 sec beating the previous record set by Ian Taylor in 1998

	Net Time Mins.secs
Megan Blatchford	22.52
Mike Keenan	24.33
Toshi Yamauchi	19.00
Nev Weir	16.49
Marcel Hollenstein	19.01
Barry Gilliland	17.46
Nigel Doyle	19.18
Peter O’Sullivan	17.07

Hamish Mikkelsen (alias GT) set a time of 17 mins 49 secs – Good effort and thanks Hamish for joining in the spirit of the event.