Track Chit Chat with Ian Gray 6

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.

WHAT A NIGHT OF RACING!!

Although there was less riders present than usual, probably due to end of school and the start of the pre Christmas rush, we saw what I considered the best pre Christmas racing I have seen on the Feilding track. Even considering the moderate easterly wind the racing was fast and exciting, the riders showing excellent fitness, and this is good for the top riders to reach top form end of Janurary prior to the first nationals at Cambridge.

The three highlights were firstly the A grade 2 Lap handicap, won by Liam Brown from Andrew McKenzie, where the riders speed out of the blocks was amazing, especially Carne Groube and Chris Denholm respectively having a handicap of 25 and 30 meters on Campbell Stewart. These 2 left there marks like “scaled cats” and gave no change to lone scratchy Campbell Stewart to make up any of hid deficit handicap in the first lap- in fact he lost a few meters!

The second highlight was in the long handicap U15’s race, the longest they have raced over 8 laps this season when middle marker Michael Richmond was a convincing winner for his first Club win of the season from promising new rider Jamie Dennis and front marker Kyra Craine held on for third.

The third highlight was probably the race of the night, which was the 14 Lap handicap which was a combined A & B grade event.

The front bunch was given a 430 meter handicap start and it was great to see them really work hard to try stay clear. Michaela Drummond and Emily Shearman worked well for this bunch. However a strong scratch bunch caught the leaders with 4 Laps to go and Campbell Stewart was in scintillating form and went from the 200m line to win comfortably from James Denholm.

In fact I timed Campbell over the last 200m and he produced an amazing 12.4sec, which is very quick for the Feilding track. In fact the fasted 200m in the record book is held by Jono Hamlin at 11.95sec. for Feilding.

The rider of the night award goes to Michael Richmond, for his very good win in the U15’s 8 lap Handicap- congrats to Michael.

It looks like the weather doesn’t look promising for this Sunday’s Christmas meet, so keep looking on the Facebook and website to see if it is on.

Merry Christmas to all riders, parents and supporters!