LOWE TAKES CHAMPIONSHIP
With Club Championship titles on the line, racing was fast and spirited in Tinwald Cycling Club’s, Ashburton MSA Liquor Centre, 64km mass start event around the Wakanui Beach block on Sunday.
A solid nor-wester ensured there would be no easy ride, creating early splits in the field.
The lead bunch containing 9 of the main contenders got into their work from the start.
It was Stu Lowe who produced the number one ride of the day proving too strong in the charge to the line to take overall victory and the veteran 2 title.
Brad Hudson pulled out his best ride of the season to snare second place and vet 1 honours.
Darryl Kircher led the bunch sprint in, to take the final podium position.
Steve Hands was in the thick of the finish to claim fourth spot and senior honours.
In the chasing group a battle was taking place between the two leading women contenders.
Kristine Marriott pulled out her trade mark sprint to take the women’s open victory and vet 1 title.
Rachel Thow produced a top shelf ride securing the second place spoils.
Michelle Davidson reaped the rewards of a good ride securing third place overall and the vet 2 title.
Ryan Jackson and Michelle Knight battled bravely in the challenging conditions to lift the under 19 and senior women’s titles respectively.
Club president Paul Macfie produced a great ride fresh up to secure the vet 3 ribbon.
Janice Crawford rode strongly to see off all challengers to secure the women’s vet 3 spoils.
Don Morrison rounded out the day lifting the vet 4 title.
Sealed handicap honours were also up for grabs. Ronnie Campbell dug deep to stick with a solid mark and was rewarded with the win and lifted the Kirdy Cup.
Gary Weston and Aaron Fitzsimmons produced stand out rides to fill the minor spots.
The juniors raced over 16km.
The under 15 title was secured by an up and coming talent, Mitchell Fitzsimmons who broke clear of his competition mid-race.
Oliver Davidson continued this good form taking second place with the ever- improving Ethan Titheridge in third.
The under 15 girl’s title was secured by Caitlin Titheridge with a dominant display.
Maddi Lowry produced her trademark gutsy ride to take the second place spoils, with Lily Davidson having her first taste of championship racing securing third place.
Matt Clough lifted the under 17 title coming in on the back of a solid week of off road training.
Cuttle Charges Clear
Marty Cuttle had the final say in Tinwald Cycling Club’s, McDonalds Family Restaurant : Chicago Joes, 54 km handicap event around the Chertsey block on Sunday.
The race was a good opportunity for a solid hit out before next week’s Club Championships.
Cuttle seized his chances with a drop in pace leading into the finish, he jumped clear early and held on strongly to the line to claim victory.
Brett McGinity continued his good form with a late charge to the finish, to take the second place spoils.
Doug Coley will be one to watch next week with an eye catching third place.
Jamie Smitheram, Dave Knight and Don Sutton rounded out the top six.
Michael Templeton’s stellar run of results continued picking up the fastest time honours, riding the course in 72.20.
Co-markers Stu Lowe and Brad Hudson secured second and third time.
The juniors contested a 13km handicap event.
It was a Marshall family quinella with Jake Marshall pulling out a top self ride to claim the win.
His younger brother Daniel had his best ride of the season, taking the second place spoils after a tight battle to the finish line with third place getter Jack Templeton.
Lily Davidson, Alyssa McGinity, and Oliver Davidson filled the top half dozen positions.
Oliver covered the distance in 21.47 to take fastest honours from the brother–sister duo of Ethan and Caitlin Titheridge.
Next week Club Championship titles will be up for grabs around the Wakanui Beach block.
Ellis claims victory
Brian Ellis recorded his first victory after many years of trying in Tinwald Cycling Club’s, Niagara Saw Milling, Aaron Stewart Memorial, 48km handicap event around the Grahams Road block on Sunday.
With a large field exceeding 60 riders, there were plenty of chances.
Ellis and his co-markers worked hard to keep the chasing riders at bay before he and Kerry Clough made the decisive break, riding clear of the group, and chasing down the front marker in the shadow of the finish line.
Ellis had the final say in the sprint to take the spoils, with Kerry Clough deservedly securing second place after producing his best performance of the season.
Limit rider Helen Bancroft bravely held on to claim the final podium position.
Marrisa McDonald and Debbie Skinner stuck to their tasks to round out the top 5 spots.
Meanwhile back in the field the scratch markers were fighting out for fastest time and the honour of lifting the Aaron Stewart Memorial Trophy for the first time.
It was his friend and fellow bike rider Darryl Kircher, who found the line the strongest to claim the honours, riding the distance in 66.12.
Stu Lowe and Tony Ward took second and third time.
The juniors competed over 16km.
Maddi Lowry had a super race to find the front and finish strongly to take the win.
Lily Davidson continued her good season with a solid second place finish.
Ethan Titheridge stormed into third and in doing so also took second fastest time honours.
Oliver Davidson produced a great rider off scratch to take fourth spot and fastest time honours, covering the course in 25.55.
Matt Clough and Jenna Borthwick rounded out the top 6.
Next week the Club travels to Chertsey to contest a 54km handicap event.