Record-setting Harper out sprints cycling rivals
Record-setting endurance rider Craig Harper showed he can also muster considerable speed over much short distances when he claimed the David Duff Memorial Trophy at Fairhall on Saturday.
Harper, who holds the world record for cycling the length of New Zealand, outsprinted his Cuddon Cycling Marlborough rivals to claim one of the club’s most sought-after prizes.
The open grade 56km massed start/sealed handicap event was ridden in breezy conditions, covering a course from Fairhall Hall, around the large Hawkesbury circuit four times and return.
A solid start into the wind soon saw the field split apart with Harper, Sean O’Neill, Gerard and Niels van Antwerpen, Andrew Bidwell and Kevin Bishell going clear. The field then consolidated with two groups chasing the frontrunners for handicap honours. The leading group was reduced to five when Bishell drifted off with 20km to go, and then four when Gerard van
David Duff Memorial Trophy, 56km: C Harper 1hr 27m 49s (trophy and medal) 1, N van Antwerpen 1hr 27m 51s (medal) 2, A Bidwell 1hr 27m 52s 3, S O’Neill 1hr 27m 53s (medal) 4, G van Antwerpen 1hr 28m 46s 5, K Bishell 1hr 31m 48s 6, K Marshall 1hr 34m 44s 7, A Gifford 1hr 34m 44s 8, M Fletcher 1hr 34m 45s 9, M Thompson 1hr 34m 50s 10. Sealed handicap: K Bishell (8m - medal) 1hr 23m 48s 1, K Marshall (10m - medal) 1hr 24m 44s 2, M Fletcher (10m - medal) 1hr 24m 45s 3, M Thompson (10m) 1hr 24m 50s 4, J Sherwood (15m) 1hr 25m 13s 5, I Martella (15m) 1hr 25m 13s 6, A Gifford (8m) 1hr 26m 44s 7, C Harper (scr) 1hr 27m 49s 8, N van Antwerpen (scr) 1hr 27m 51s 9, S O’Neill (scr) 1hr 27m 53s 10.
Antwerpen went off with 10km to go.
Harper put the pressure on in the last few kilometres and went clear in the latter stages to take the win by two seconds from Niels van Antwerpen, Bidwell and O’Neill respectively. Bishell’s earlier per- severance paid off with a strong finishing ride to take the handicap honours by 56s to Kim Marshall and Martin Fletcher respectively.