Kennedy Battles to Victory
Riders not only battled each other in Tinwald Cycling Clubs, Chertsey Tavern: Chicago Joes, 40km handicap event at Chertsey on Sunday but mother nature put in an appearance with strong gusty nor westers adding to the challenge.
Front markers, Mark Kennedy and Matt Ellis dug deep to keep the chasing riders at bay. It was Kennedy who had the best of the finish to claim victory and lift the Brian Cavill Memorial Shield with Ellis taking a game second.
Scratch rider Jason Christie showed his class riding through the field to claim third and fastest time honours riding the course in 61.44.
Richard Kirwan's recent training programme reaped rewards riding strongly to take the fourth place spoils from Paul Macfie and Trevor Prattley.
Nathan Tew and Brad Hudson lifted second and third fastest time honours respectively.
Due to the high winds the junior event was modified. The riders contested a 2km time trial consisting of a flying tail wind leg and a push home into a character building head wind.
Bailey O'Donnell just edged out his younger brother Abe by a solitary second to record the fastest time of 3.57. James Skinner also had a battle on his hands to take third from his younger brother Luke who secured fourth place.
Oliver Davidson and Jenna Borthwick rounded out the top six.
Kenny Johnstone claimed division 2 honours from Andy Skinner and Keryn O'Donnell.
Next week the Club travels to Methven to contest for the Peach Cups.
Final Hit Out for Hooper and Domigan
Tinwald Cycling Club contested the LL Kirwan and Son Ltd, AshburtonOnline, graded scratch event around the Blackbridge block on Sunday. A and B grade competed over 60km with C and D grade battling over 40km.
Alex Hooper and Craig Domigan, both having a final hit out before next weeks Tour of Southland, fought out A grade honours with Hooper taking the victory on the line from Domigan. Glen Gould led in the chasing group to claim third from Tony Ward and Nigel Douglas.
B grade spoils were secured by Rob Hooper in a tight finish with Christchurch visitor Simon White. Rachel Thow rode strongly to claim third with Myles O'Donnell and Paul Macfie rounding out the top five.
C Grade saw the biggest field of the day and the result again was decided in a bunch sprint with Andrew Shepherd hitting the line strongly to secure victory. Mark Smitheram pulled out a top shelf effort to secure second place with Doug Coley charging into third place. Pam Harcourt and Doug Lowry were in the thick of the finish to grab fourth and fifth places. Isabella Smith was first junior A rider home acquitting herself well in the grade with a top finish.
John Harcourt led home D grade to step on top of the podium with Alec Crawford on his tail to secure second from Timaru rider Nigel Leary. Lucy Kirwan and Brain Ellis rounded out the top five.
The junior and Division 2 riders contested a 20km handicap event. Caitlin Titheridge proved too strong in the windy conditions to take the win. Connor Leov charged into second edging out co-marker Abe O'Donnell. Connie Davidson produced a top ride to take fourth with Bailey O'Donnell riding into fifth place and in doing so claimed fastest time honours.
Keryn O'Donnell secured the major spoils in Division 2 with Janette Hooper taking second place from Drew Titheridge in third.
Next week the Club travels to Chertsey to contest a 40km handicap event.
Letham Goes One Better
After being within a tyre width of victory last week Sam Letham went one better in Tinwald Cycling Club's, Robbies Bar and Bistro, The Courier, 45km handicap event around the Dawsons Road block on Sunday.
Letham, a former New Zealand age group World Duathlon Championship representative displayed his strength in the final push to the line to take the win from Michael Gallagher and Matt Marshall.
Marty Cuttle, Ross Templeton and Rob Hooper rounded out the top six.
The podium finishes only found the front inside the final 1.5km after a solid group of thirteen riders had kept the chasing riders at bay.
Craig Domigan rode the course in 63.41 to take fastest time honours from co-markers Steve Hands and Brad Hudson.
A top field of 20 juniors contested a 15km handicap event.
Maddie Lowry backed up last week's victory with another top shelf ride to claim the major spoils. Rosie Gray continued her progression in the sport with a hard earned second place. Abe O'Donnell charged through the field to secure third place and in doing so took third fastest time honours. Henry Smith pushed him to the line to secure fourth place with Jaxson White and Luke Skinner filling the top six spots.
Scratch rider Bailey O'Donnell covered the course in 25.47 to take fastest time honours after a sprint finish with co-marker Bailey Kershaw who took second time.
Andy Skinner led home division 2 from Keryn O'Donnell, Janette Hooper, Kerry Clough, and Drew Titheridge who secured fastest time honours.
Next week the Club will contest a graded scratch event around the Blackbridge block.