WCNI TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS 22/24 JAN 2010

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.

The Wanganui weather managed to hold off for the first night of racing with some exciting time trials and scratch races for Marist and Feilding riders.

Kate Stewart rode in her first ever track competition and won the U15 500m TT quite convincingly. Mark Findlay, Jaycob Humphries and Sean Whitehouse came 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd in the U17 500m TT and 2000m pursuit race. Matiu Kaihau won the U19 kilo TT with Josh Chard coming 4^th and Sjoerd finishing 5^th.

Jaycob rode strongly to win both U17 scratch races, with Sean and Mark coming 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in an exciting finish across the line. The senior men’s racing was fast and furious over the 32 lap scratch race with Matiu Kaihau finishing 1^st in the U19 grade, Josh Chard 3^rd and Sjoerd 4^th.

The weather played havoc on Saturday so racing was delayed until Sunday, which just allowed the track to dry out enough for racing. Sprints, pursuits and points races were held with awesome results from all our riders.

Sean Whitehouse and Mark Findlay ended up riding for gold & silver in the Sprint final, which was the best of 3 sprints. After winning one race each the crowd then had to endure a nail-biting third race to sprint off for the gold medal. The cat and mouse excitement of sprint racing was held to the last lap when Sean just managed to sprint off Mark on the line to win gold! Jaycob Humphries and Vladimir Stewart from Wanganui then had to race off for 3^rd and 4^th in another exciting race in which Jaycob won the bronze medal.

The U19 3000m (12 laps) pursuit was won by Matiu Kaihau in 3:44secs with Denay Cottam 2^ndin 3:50secs and Josh Chard 3^rd in 4:04secs. The Points race is always an awesome event with the U17 boys winner being Mark Findlay, 3^rd Jaycob and 4^th Sean Whitehouse.

The U19/Senior Mens/Masters points race was also an event to remember with Matiu and Matt Noble from Wanganui managing to break up the field and race off for points in the front of the field. Both riders ended up with a total of 39 points but with Matiu taking the last exciting sprint for the line he won the gold for his outstanding effort.

The WCNI Track team for nationals was then announced with U19 riders Matiu Kaihau and Josh Chard being selected from Marist. Jaycob Humphries, Sean Whitehouse & Mark Findlay were selected for the U17 grade and Kate Stewart was selected for the U15 girls. Congratulations to all the riders who attended and were selected for Track Nationals. There are a few riders who have elected not to join the WCNI team to go to Invercargill, but we wish all the other riders the very best to bring home the medals in March 2010!