Cycling season under way
The Tinwald Cycling Club kicked off its 2024/25 summer season with a graded scratch race around the Christys Road block on Sunday.
“A” and “B” grade raced over 26km with “C” and “D” grade contesting the 27km distance.
Steve Hands had the best of the finish to claim A grade honours, riding the course in 52.25. George Coles and Tony Ward filled the podium positions.
B grade came down to a bunch sprint with Nick Hands turning back the clock to his junior days, to claim the victory from Kristine Marriott and Dave Knight.
Chris Gilbert produced a storming finish to secure C grade honours from Jason Wilson and Nick Grijns.
Matt Marshall is setting himself up for a big season, finished the strongest to claim D grade spoils from John Uden and Mike Rigarlsford.
Jack Gorrie took junior honours riding the 18km in a quick 29.38. Kaidyn Broomhall produced a great ride for second place. First time starter Cody Rollinson will be one to watch claimed the third place spoils.
Kenny Johnston claimed division 2 bragging rights from Alan Johns and Stacey Hooper.
Next week the Club will contest a 32km handicap event around the Wakanui Beach block.
Smith lifts the silverware
Jason Smith finished his Tinwald Cycling Club season off in style when taking victory in the Tinwald Tavern Mid-Canterbury Championships, raced over 60km around the Wakanui Beach triangle course on Saturday.
With the first 40 riders finishing inside a minute of each other, it was anyone’s race leading into the final 5 kilometres.
Smith held on strongly in the charge to the line to secure the win from the fast finishing Andy Timmings.
Larry Neal was in the thick of the finish to claim third place and lift the first local home cup.
Mark Smitheram produced his best performance of the season to charge into fourth place.
Lucy Reeve was another to impress, taking fifth place and fastest time for the under 19 women.
Scratch marker Noah Hollamby rounded a good day, riding the course in 74.53 to securing overall fastest time honours.
Micheal Audeau continued his good season taking the senior men’s time ribbon and second fastest time.
Craig Domigan secured third fastest time and the veteran 2 men’s ribbon.
Amy Hollamby keep the family flag flying high claiming the overall woman’s fastest time honours, from Lucy Reeve, and Kristine Marriott.
Darrell Kircher backed up his win two weeks ago by claiming the veteran 3 men’s time ribbon.
Lucy Kirwan finished off her season in the best possible fashion taking veteran 3 woman’s fastest time honours.
The juniors also raced for Mid-Canterbury Championship titles over 20km.
Eliza McKenzie backed up her recent great results on the track by claiming the junior title and also fastest time for the under 17 girls.
Charlotte Neal rounded out a good day for the girls by holding on strongly to take second place and under 15 girls time honours.
Third place getter Kaidyn Broomhall was also rewarded for a great ride with the under 15 boys fastest time ribbon.
Louie Audeau and Jack Hooper rounded out the top five.
Jack Gorrie lifted the under 17 boys time honours, riding the distance in 32.05.
Alan Johns had the final say in Division 2, securing the win from Brain Ellis.
Grijns finds form
Nick Grijns has hit form at just the right time leading into the final event of Tinwald Cycling Club’s of the season this Saturday.
Grijn’s took out the penultimate event of the season on Sunday, the Kellys Bar and Café, Templeton Motors, 64km handicap race around the challenging Wakanui 7 Rises course.
Grijns and his co-markers worked hard to find the front of the race inside the final 10km and continued to push on strongly, ensuring the chasing groups did not catch them.
In the charge to the line it was Grijns who had the best of the finish to seize the victory.
Jason Wilson produced a strong ride to secure the second place spoils.
Arjan Hulsman was rewarded for his hard work, securing the final podium position.
Ross Templeton was in the thick of the finish to record fourth place.
Paul Summerfield and Paul Williams rounded out the top six.
Kyle Gray continued his sterling season, riding the course in 89.06 to take fastest time honours.
Fellow scratch markers Craig Domigan and Noah Hollamby recorded second and third time.
The juniors and division 2 contested an 18km handicap event.
First starter Andrew Maultsard made every post a winner, riding to the front and holding on strongly to take the win.
Jack Hooper showed a clean set of heels, winning the sprint for second place.
Third place was taken out by Zac Brookland.
Fourth placegetter Jack Gorrie secured fastest time, riding the distance in 31.33.
Charlotte Neal and Kaidyn Broomhall filled the next two spots.
Kenny Johnston had the final say in division 2 to take the win, from Brian Ellis and Nigel Leary.
Next Saturday Mid Canterbury titles will be on the line when contesting a 60km handicap race around the Wakanui Beach block.