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.
Marshall overcomes elements to secure victory
Glen Marshall not only bet a good field of riders in Tinwald Cycling Club’s 70km handicap event on Sunday, but also overcame the cold, wet conditions to take a well earned win.
Marshall and his co-markers battled the elements working their way to the front of the race 50km into the journey around the Wakanui- Haketere course.
This set up a competitive finish with Marshall holding on strongly to the line to seal the major spoils.
Matt Marshall produced his best race of the season to snare second place.
Marty Cuttle continued his good end of season form to take the final podium position.
Dave Knight, Neil Wylie, and Gary Weston rounded out the top six and will be looking to build on this performance in next weeks Mid-Canterbury Championships.
Fastest time honours went to scratch marker Michael Templeton, riding the distance in 99.18.
Co-markers Tony Ward and Nathan Tew took second and third time.
The juniors and division two contested a 20km handicap event.
Hayden Jefferson pulled out a top shelf ride to race through the field, securing victory and fastest time honours.
Oliver Davidson battled hard to take second place with Maddie Lowry claiming third place.
Kerry Clough took Division two bragging rights.
Next week the Club will host the final event of the season, the Mid-Canterbury Championships on the Wakanui Beach block.
Jackson shows the way
Ryan Jackson backed up his previous week’s solid effort with victory in Tinwald Cycling Club’s, Calder Stewart, 60km handicap event around the Blackbridge block on Sunday.
Jackson and his co-markers produced a well-timed ride finding the front of the race in the concluding stages.
It was Jackson who was the strongest in the charge to the line holding out bold efforts from second and third place getters Roger Wilson and Dave Shurrock.
Michelle Davidson stormed into fourth spot with James Skinner pulling out his best race of the season entering the business end of the programme.
Brendan Davidson rounded out the top six.
Bailey O’Donnell backing up from Saturday’s Grape Ride, secured fastest time honours, riding the course in 80.18.
Co-markers Michael Templeton and Steve Hands secured second and third time.
The juniors and Division 2 contested a 20km handicap event.
Allyssa McGinity dug deep to take the win.
Oliver Davidson charged through the field from the back mark to secure second place and fastest time honours, riding the distance in 32.18.
Lily Davidson made it a good day all round for the Davidson stable securing the third place ribbon.
Ethan Titheridge took fourth place spoils.
Division 2 was hotly contested with Emma Hudson holding out the chasers to secure the win.
Brian Ellis took second place and fastest time honours with Andy Skinner in third place.
Next week the Club will contest a handicap event on the Wakanui–Hakatere course.