HANDS TAKES CHAMPIONSHIP
Tinwald Cycling Club championship titles went on the line on Sunday with the holding of the Ashburton Club and MSA, Club Championship, 64km mass start event around the Wakanui Beach block.
With early pressure being applied the race soon spilt up. The front group consisting of 7 riders settled into their work with the all the main championship contenders present.
It was Steve Hands, who's performances in previous weeks had made him odds on favourite that lived up to his billing with a blistering final sprint to see off all challengers and lift the Club championship title for 2014. Hands rode the course in 96.02.
Timaru rider, Craig Domigan rode strongly to claim the second place spoils and in doing so also lifted the veteran 1 title.
Nigel Douglas produced his best ride of the season to take third place.
Nathan Tew rode into fourth and took out under 23 honours. Tony Ward was right on his tail to lift the veteran 2 ribbon.
The chasing bunch contained two of the favoured women. The result was decided in a sprint finish with Kristine Marriott keeping out the fast finishing Rachel Thow to lift the women's championship title.
Michelle Davidson secured third place and took veteran 2 honours.
Paul Macfie finished the year off with a solid ride to take the veteran 3 title with the evergreen Dave Shurrock securing the veteran 4 championship ribbon.
Janis Crawford had to pull out all the stops in a sprint finish to claim the women's veteran 3 title.
Gene Shurrock produced the ride of the day to secure sealed handicap honours from Ross Avis and John Harcourt.
The juniors also raced for with Club titles with the under 17's competing over 32km and the under 15's over 16km.
Ben Sutton finished his days in the junior ranks with top shelf ride to secure the under 17 title from the ever improving James Skinner in second with Ryan Jackson securing the final podium position.
A solid field of under 15's went to the start line. Bailey O'Donnell showed his class with a solo ride to victory to claim the championship ribbon.
His younger brother Abe O'Donnell who will be a force to be reckoned with in coming years stormed into second place with Oliver Davidson continuing his good form taking the third place spoils.
Caitlin Titheridge continued her dominance in the girls under 15 grade to step on top of the podium.
Bella Roulston and Connie Davidson had a ding dong battle with Bella getting to the line first to claim second place with Connie in third.
Maddy Clark dug deep to secured the sealed handicap honours from Connie and Bella.
Division 2 saw Janette Hooper take the win from Andy Skinner and Rachel Russell.
DAVIDSON TAKES VICTORY
Michelle Davidson has ridden herself into form leading into this weekends Club Championships, taking out Tinwald Cycling Club's, Davidson Refrigeration and Electrical, 50km handicap event around the Swamp Road block on Sunday.
Having found the front, Davidson and her co-markers formed a solid bunch working well together to keep the chasing groups at bay.
Leading into the sprint it was Davidson who timed her effort to perfection to keep out the fast finishing Geoff Rhodes who claimed the second place spoils. Brendan Davidson made it a good day for the Davidson stable securing the final podium position.
Colin Teahen fought on strongly to take fourth place with Mark Smitheram and Bob Scammell rounding out the top half dozen.
Steve Hands rode the course in 74.29 to secure fastest time honours from co-markers Tony Ward and Nathan Tew.
The juniors and division 2 competed of over 16km.
Maddie Lowry continued her stellar season riding strongly off the front mark to take victory from Oliver Davidson, backing up from last weeks top shelf ride. Caitlin Titheridge stormed into third and in doing so took fastest time honours. Ethan Titheridge secured fourth place.
Rachel Russell took the major spoils in division 2 with Janette Hooper claiming second place and Drew Titheridge securing third and fastest time honours.
Next week Club Championship titles will be up for grabs in 64km event around the WakanuiBeach block.
JOHNS HAS FINAL SAY
Allan Johns and Lucy Kirwan showed plenty of fight riding off the front mark to keep the entire field at bay in Tinwald Cycling Club's, McDonald Family Restaurant, 48km handicap event on Sunday.
With the line in sight Johns called on his years of experience, timing his sprint to perfection to claim the victory. Kirwan produced her best ride of the season to deservedly take the second place spoils.
Ross Templeton led in a solid chasing bunch to secure third place. Sam Letham, Michael Gallagher and Rob Hooper rounded out the top six.
Scratch rider, Steve Hands recorded the fastest time of the day covering the course in 65.59 with co-markers Nathan Tew and Tony Ward taking second and third time.
Oliver Davidson had a day to remember in the junior 16km handicap race sweeping the major spoils, claiming overall victory and fastest time honours riding the distance in 31.31.
Ryan Jackson backed up last week's top effort with second place and recording second fastest time.
Charlotte Gray continues her rise in the sport claiming third place with Maddie Lowry, Luke Skinner and Rosie Gray filling the next three spots. Scratch rider, James Skinner took third fastest time.
Division 2 saw Janette Hooper take the win and fastest time honours from Tony Tarbotton and Kerry Clough.
Next week the Club will contest a 50km handicap event around the Swamp Road block.