Winter Series sprints oh-so close
A glorious autumn day greeted a record 202 riders from Te Awamutu Sports Cycling Club for week two of the Spoken Cycles Winter Series race.
The A grade race attracted a classy 30-strong field including Olympians Dylan Kennett, Nick Kergozou and Regan Gough.
Kennett took line honours in a thrilling sprint finish which saw the first eight home all credited with the same time of 53.17 minutes for the 45km journey at Goodwood in Cambridge on Sunday.
The race was contested over three laps of the Fencourt Rd, Aspin Rd, Flume Rd circuit.
In finishing order were Kennett, Alex Heaney, Kergozou, Josh Kuysten, James Harvey, Kiaan Watts, George Jackson and Josh Lane.
A field of 48 B graders necessitated organisers to divide them into two (even and odd) groups for safety reasons.
All 25 riders in the ‘even’ group finished in the same time of 59.57, giving timekeepers a headache.
Andrew Weatherley was first home, with Kirstie Klingenberg and Ted Schmidt completing the podium. Bryony Botha, silver medallist at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, was fourth.
The B grade ‘odd’ group produced another nail-biting finish with 17 of the 23 starters posting the same time (59.57) as the winner Reuben Webster and minor placegetters Bruce Hunter and Mike Woodd.
Club captain Mike Gascoigne was fourth, one place ahead of Botha’s silver medalwinning Commonwealth Games team pursuit teammate Racquel Sheath.
C grade was also spilt into two groups after 49 registered. Tim Goodson headed the ‘even’ group in 1.04.44, winning a 19-strong sprint finish from Allan Mark and Andrew Richards.
The ‘odd’ group was won by Jarod Walsh in 1.02.37, from Trevor Foley, Del Woodford, Glen Crompton and Julian Parkinson who were credited with same time as the winner.
A field of 26 D graders faced the starter, of which 18 finished in 1.08.41. James Ward took line honours from Josh Gordon, Nicola Lewis, Marcel Te Brake, Brett Mulholland and Bryce Stilborn.
The 21-strong E grade field covered two laps with the first seven home all being credited with 48.11. They were, in finishing order, Reuben Ngapo, Kevin Baker, David Graham, Aimee Elliott, Bruce Mandeno and Judth Quax.
A large field of 31 under-15 riders contested one lap.
The sealed handicap race was dominated by the 11-minute group, Kate McLeod winning in 25.20, from Paul Rettkowicz 25.21 and McKenzie Barnett 27.41. Fastest time of 21.34 went to scratch rider Blake Bailey who placed 13th.
Next Sunday’s week three race, sponsored by Spoken Cycles, is based at Puahue School.