Marshall Opens Seasons Account
Glen Marshall secured victory in Tinwald Cycling Clubs, Brad Hudson Flooring, Mathieson Chartered Accountants, 38km handicap event around the Wakanui - Hakatere course on Sunday.
With a solid field of 53 riders the result was wide open, this proved to be the case with the first 38 riders finishing inside 60 seconds of each other.
Marshall and his co-markers worked well to pick up the group in front inside the first 15km, then set about finding the front of the race which they did but only in the final 3km.
Marshall won the sprint in the shadow of the finish line from a game Sam Letham who rode strongly to claim second place spoils. Rachel Thow continued her good form to take third with Trevor Pratley, Dave Knight and Paul Mcfie rounding out the top six.
Brad Hudson rode the course in 51.50 to take fastest time honours from co-markers Tony Ward and Michael Templeton.
A big field of juniors contested a 16km handicap event.
Front marker, Maddie Lowry rode a super race to keep the chasing riders at bay. Jenna Borthwick backed up last week's top ride to take second place. Charlotte Gray showed she will be one to watch charging into third place with Isabella Gibson, Rosie Gray and Abe O'Donnell hot on her tail filling the top six positions.
Bailey O'Donnell fresh from the Yunca Tour secured fastest time honours riding the distance in 26.13. Co-markers Connor Leov and Matthew Clough took second and third time respectively.
Division 2 also saw good numbers taking advantage of the warm spring day.
Tony Tarbotton saw off the challenge of Nicole Ellis to take the victory with Keryn O'Donnell securing the final podium spot. Janette Hooper secured fourth place with fifth place getter Drew Titheridge taking fastest time honours.
Next week the Club contests a handicap event around Dawsons Road.
Kennedy takes Victory
Mark Kennedy timed his charge to the line to perfection to claim the major spoils in Tinwald Cycling Club's, ACL, RX Plastics, 32km handicap event around the WakanuiBeach block on Sunday.
Kennedy and his co-markers set about their work in a growing breeze keeping the fast finishing chasers at bay by a slender 5 seconds.
Colin Teahen secured second place with Brian Ellis filling the third place podium spot.
Alan Johns, Ben Sutton, and Gene Shurrock rounded out the top six.
Alex Hooper, fresh from a break through podium finish in the elite race series, rode the course in 43.39 to secure fastest time honours from co-markers Tony Ward and Nigel Douglas.
The juniors and division 2 contested a 16km handicap event.
Jenna Borthwick showed her strength to take the win in the junior section and in doing so lift the Bushell Memorial Rose bowl. Matheson Colquhoun charged into second place with Maddie Lowry showing plenty of fight to keep the chasing scratch riders at bay to take third place.
Jessie Banks and James Skinner filled fourth and fifth places respectively and in doing so also claimed the top two fastest time honours riding the course in 32.32.
Andrew Colquhoun took the win in division 2 seeing off the challenge of Andy Skinner with Janette Hooper and Nicole Ellis rounding out the top four.
Next week the Club will contest a 38km handicap event around a Wakanui - Hakatere course.
Season Pipe Opener
The Tinwald Cycling Club kicked off its summer season of road racing on Sunday with the Everyprint : Health 2000 graded scratch races around the Christies Road block.
With 70 riders participating over a number of grades racing was competitive with close finishers the order of the day.
"A" grade saw a strong field boosted by outer town riders looking for a solid hit before next weekends Christchurch's Elite series race.
It was local riders however who filled the top 3 positions with Michael Templeton proving to strong in the charge to the line taking victory over Steve Hands and Tony Ward. The 36km was covered in 52.34.
Wayne Clement secured "B" grade honours holding on in the sprint to the line from Timaru visitors Glenn Marshall and Trevor Prattley riding the course in 56.43
"C" grade saw a tight finish with a number of riders putting themselves in the mix for victory over the 27km distance. It was Mark Smitheram who lifted the cup riding the distance in 45.09, from Geoff Rhodes and Gene Shurrock.
Nicole Hands rode strongly to take the "D" grade spoils with a hard fought sprint to the line with her co-markers riding the course in 51.22. John Harcourt charged into second place with Colin Teahen in third place.
The "A" juniors contested an 18km scratch race. Bailey O'Donnell had a good hit out leading into next weeks junior Tour of Southland, taking the win from his younger brother Abe who is also heading south. Cameron Prattley rode strongly to secure third place from James Skinner and Oliver Davidson.
Ethan Titheridge opened his season account with a hard fought win over Jake Marshall and Maddi Lowry in the 9km "B" grade event.
Next week the Club will contest a 32km handicap event around the Wakanui Beach block.