51 year wait ended
It took John Delore 51 years to get redemption when he secured victory in Tinwald Cycling Clubs, Tinwald Tavern Mid-Canterbury Championship on Saturday.
In 1969 as a youngster, Delore with one hand on the Cup, was pipped on the finish line and had to do with the second place.
The final event of the season’s calendar saw a good field of riders contest the 64km handicap event around the Wakanui beach block.
Delore and his co-markers worked well together to find the front of the race, and dug deep to keep the chasing groups as bay.
Delore bet Nigel Leary in the two up sprint to the line to etch his name in the Cup.
Leary’s second place was just reward for a good day’s work and a solid season of riding.
Penny Costello led the chasing group in to secure the final podium position and secure the senior women’s fastest time ribbon.
Shona McGrath was in the thick of the finish to claim fourth spot and the women’s veteran 3 title.
Liz Wylie and Brent Hudson rounded out the top six places.
Scratch marker Oliver Davidson produced a great ride to claim the overall fastest time honours, riding the distance in 92.11.
The evergreen Tony Ward secured second fastest time and the veteran 3 fastest time spoils.
Nigel Douglas was hot on their tail to claim third time and the veteran 1 time ribbon.
Kristine Marriot continued her great form with a strong ride to claim the overall women’s fastest time honours, from Caitlin Titheridge and Michelle Davidson.
Sam Clement-Stewart rounded out a good season with the senior men’s time ribbon.
Veteran 2 time honours went to Rob Hooper, with Christchurch visitor Brent Cowie lifting the veteran 4 fastest time title.
Marcel Smithers finished the season off in style securing the veteran 1 ribbon, with Caitlin Titheridge lifting the women’s under 19 spoils.
The juniors and division 2 contested a 16km handicap event.
Sarah Gould produced her best performance of the season, storming home to take the junior Mid-Canterbury Championship title.
Leah Reid also pulled out an outstanding ride to take the second place spoils.
Holly Crawford-Douglas rounded out a successful first season on the bike, taking third place.
Sisters Tegan and Penny Marriott were in the thick of the finish taking fourth and fifth places respectively.
Sixth place getter Zac Brookland lifted the under 15 boys fastest time ribbon.
Zoe Spillane who continues to impressive took the under 15 girls time title.
Scratch markers Ferg Sail and Maddi Lowry secured the under 17 boys and girls time ribbon respectively, riding the course in 26.01
Debbie Skinner took the division spoils from Janette Hooper, with third place getter Kenny Johnston claiming fastest time.
Chapman in form
Paul Chapman made every post a winner on Sunday taking out the Tinwald Cycling Clubs, Templeton Motors, Kelly’s Café and Bar, 65km handicap event around the Wakanui – Hakatere course.
In a good hit out leading into next week’s final race of the season, the Mid-Canterbury Championships, it was Chapman who showed plenty of kick in the bunch sprint to the line to take the victory.
Paul Macfie who is coming into some good form was in the thick of the finish to claim the second place spoils.
Neil Wylie is another who has shown he will be one to watch next week with a solid ride being rewarded with the final podium position.
Nick Grijns again found himself in the thick of the finish to claim fourth spot.
Marty Hyde and Michelle Davidson filled out the top six spots.
Scratch marker Steve Hands secured fastest time honours, riding the distance in 97.44.
Co-markers Tony Ward and Kristine Marriott secured second and third time.
The junior and division 2 contested a 16km handicap event.
Holly Crawford-Douglas and Tim Reid riding off the front marker proved to strong, with a great ride seeing them keep the chasing riders at bay.
It was Holly who powered away on the line to take the win.
Tom was right on her tail to secure the second place spoils.
Sarah Gould pulled out a top shelf ride to take third place.
Penny Marriott produced her trade mark gutsy ride to take fourth place and was further rewarded with fastest time honours, covering the course in 35.09.
Little sister Tegan Marriott gave nothing away to secure fifth place with James Reid rounding out the top six.
Debbie Skinner secured division 2 bragging rights from Sue Templeton and Hillary Singlewood. Kenny Johnston took fastest time.
Next week Mid-Canterbury Championships titles will go on the line in a 64km handicap event around the Wakanui Beach block.
Marriott has last say
The shake down has started 2 weeks out from Tinwald Cycling Club’s end of season blue ribbon event, the Mid Canterbury Championships.
Kristine Marriott’s sprinting prowess came to the fore on Sunday when she took victory in the Calder Stewart, 60km handicap event around the Blackbridge block.
Marriott got up by the barest of margins in a photo finish with Matt Marshall, who is hitting form at the business end of the season.
Rob Hooper found the line strongly in the charge to the line to secure the third place spoils.
Jamie Smitheram who continues to improve every week took fourth place.
Kev Opele and Roger Wilson were in the thick of the finish to round out the top six spots.
Scratch marker Tony Ward secured fastest time honours riding the distance in 90.08.
Steve Hands and Kristine Marriott secured second and third fastest times respectively.
The juniors and division 2 contested a 20km handicap event.
Leah Reid had a great day securing the win and taking fastest time honours for good measure.
Leah rode the distance in 44.52.
Holly Crawford-Douglas had an awesome race to take the second place spoils.
Hilary Singlewood dug deep to take the victory in division 2, keeping the fast finishing Kenny Johnston at bay.
Next week the Club will contest the penultimate race of the season, a 65km handicap event around the Wakanui – Hakatere course.