KIRWAN HAS THE LAST SAY
Richard Kirwan brought his “A” game to the table when it mattered the most, securing the victor’s spoils in Tinwald Cycling Club’s last race of the season, the Mid-Canterbury Cycling Championship.
The 80km handicap event raced around the Wakanui Beach block on Saturday saw a strong field of riders go to the start, all looking for line and age group fastest time honours.
Kirwan and his co-markers found the front of the race with 10km remaining but had to dig deep to ensure the fast approaching chasing bunches didn’t swamp them in the shadows of the finishing post.
Kirwan secured the win with a powerful late charge out wide, pipping international rider, Irishman Coleman Burke, backing up from celebrating St Patrick’s Day, on the line.
Don Sutton continued his stellar season storming into third place.
Michelle Davidson’s late season good form earned her fourth place and women’s veteran 2 fastest time honours.
Don Morrison had another solid day taking fifth place, with sixth place getter Michelle Knight lifting the senior women’s fastest time honours.
Back in the field riders were vying for fastest time honours.
Nigel Douglas secured the men’s vet 1 spoils, with the vet 3 ribbon going to Christchurch visitor Brent Cowie, while Bruce McClelland put his good block of recent training to good use claiming vet 4 honours.
Pam Harcourt saw off all challengers to take the women’s vet 4 ribbon.
A competitive race was developing for the women’s overall fastest time honours. Rachel Thow had the final say in the charge to the line to lift the overall fastest time and vet 1 titles, with Kristine Marriott taking the second place spoils.
Bailey O’Donnell built on his good season, claiming the u19 title.
A good group of back markers went to the line, but it was Stu Lowe who had the legs to break away late in the race and hold out the chasing group to secure the men’s vet 2 title and overall fastest time honours, covering the distance in 113.31.
The juniors and division 2 raced over 16km.
Hayden Jefferson capped off a great first season on the road bike securing the under 17 and fastest time cup and ribbon.
Jack Templeton also made his first season of racing a memorable one taking the under 15 title and boys fastest time honours.
Lily Davidson was second while third place getter Maddie Lowry continues to impress securing the girls fastest time ribbon.
Janette Hooper finished the season on a high note taking division 2 honours from Brian Ellis, with Shona McGrath-Proctor securing time honours.