Grijns celebrates
It’s been a long time between drinks for Nick Grijns but on Sunday he had something to celebrate, when he took out the Tinwald Cycling Club, Ward Family, McIntosh Group, 60km handicap event around the Blackbridge block.
The finish was determined in a three way sprint to the line.
Grijns turned the clock back, kicking hard to the finish line, and holding on for the victory.
Ross Templeton who is starting to show good form leading into the Club Championships this coming week, took out second place.
Nigel Chatterton produced his best race of the season with a solid third place.
Mark Smitheram, Matt Clough, and Larry Neal rounded out the top six.
Christchurch visitor Jack Drage, showed his potential securing fastest time honours, riding the course in 87.01.
Tony Ward and Oliver Davidson took second and third time.
The juniors and division 2 contested a 20km handicap event.
Leah Reid was rewarded for a great ride, holding on by the barest of margins to secure the win.
Amwolf Artz showed he will be one to watch with an eye catching ride to take second place.
Penny Marriott continued her good form to take the third place spoils.
Lily Davidson and Tegan Marriott filled the next two spots.
Sixth place getter Ethan Titheridge, took out fastest time honours, riding the distance in 32.43.
Andy Skinner lifted division 2 honours, in a close finish with his wife, Debbie.
Next week Club Championship titles will be on the line, in a 64km event around the Wakanui Beach block.
Summerfield has final say
In excess of 50 riders went to the starting line in Tinwald Cycling Clubs, Aaron Stewart Memorial, McDonalds Family Restaurant, 48km handicap event around the Grahams Road block on Sunday.
With half the field in contention leading onto the final kilometres the result was wide open.
Mark Summerfield proved to have the strongest finish to take the well-earned victory in a tight finish.
Christchurch visitor Mark Taylor produced a solid ride to secure the second place spoils.
Flynn Beeman continued his good form with a gutsy ride, seeing him fill the third place podium position.
Quinten Lawler, Paul Sinclair, and Jake Beeman rounded out the top six.
Scratch marker Darryl Kircher covered the distance in 68.50 to claim fastest time honours and in doing so lifted the Arron Stewart Memorial Cup.
Co-makers Oliver Davidson and Stu Lowe took second and third time respectively.
The juniors and division 2 contested a 16km handicap race.
Tegan Marriott dug deep in the final stages of the race to keep the chasing riders at bay by the barest of margins to take the win and major spoils.
Sarah Gould had an awesome ride to take second place.
First time starter Eliza McKenzie was in the thick of finish to secure a well-deserved third place.
Penny Marriott, Lily Davidson, and Jack Templeton filled the top six places.
Back marker Ethan Titheridge rode the course in 26.21 to secure fastest time honours.
Kenny Johnston took division 2 honours.
Next week the Club will contest a 60km handicap event around the Blackbridge block.
Opele takes his chance
The Tinwald Cycling Club travelled to Mt Somers to contest the Spray Marks, Stronechrubie, 45km mass start event on Sunday.
A stiff nor wester kept a solid bunch of riders together to the turnaround at Hakatere Station.
Some fireworks out of the turnaround saw several riders miss the break with a group of eight riders slipping off the front.
To add spice to the event the wind changed ensuring a hard push home to the finish line.
With several attacks inside the final kilometres being shut down, Kev Opele chanced his arm inside the final kilometre and managed to slip off the front.
The charging bunch left there run too late and Opele held on for a well-deserved victory.
Brad Hudson stormed home to take second place with Mark Summerfield taking the final podium spot.
Back in the field riders had plenty to race for with sealed handicap honours up for grabs.
Sarah Jenkins rode strongly to lift the sealed handicap trophy.
Ross Templeton secured the second place spoils with overall winner Kev Opele claiming the third place envelope.
The juniors and division 2 contested a 14km handicap event.
Cooper Spillane dug deep to keep the chasing riders at bay by the smallest of margins, staying away for the win.
His sister Zoe Spillane charged though the field from the back mark to claim second place and fastest time honours, riding the distance in 30.58.
Jack Templeton continued his good form taking third place.
Daniel Gould was right on his tail in fourth.
Lily Davidson and Mitch Brookland rounded out the top six.
Sue Templeton took division 2 honours.
Next week the Club will contest a 48km handicap event around the Grahams Road block.