Southland cyclists in the medals

Southland cyclists won a sprinkling of medals at the New Zealand club cycling nationals in Alexandra yesterday.

The day featured the time trials with Hamish Keast claiming the silver medal in the under-17 section with a time of 21:10, only five seconds behind Finn Fisher-Black of Tasman Wheelers, while Southland’s Corbin Strong finished fifth.

Josh Haggerty grabbed the bronze medal in the 25km men’s under-23 in a time of 36:45.

World masters track cycling champion Erin Criglington claimed second place in the women’s masters 3 category in 44:08, while Nicola Stevens finished fourth and Shirlene Rollo sixth.

Sam Kopae claimed the bronze medal in the women’s masters 4 category in a time of 25:44, while John Alabaster from Wakatipu won the men’s masters 6 category.

Southern riders Mikayla Harvey and Nicole Shields from Central Otago claimed silver and bronze in the U19 women’s event behind Madeleine Park from Counties Manukau.

In the elite events, Paul Odlin from Pegasus won the men’s in 34:04, by over a minute from Andrew Hagan from Port Nicholson Poneke and Timaru’s Tim Rush.

Jaime Nielsen from Te Awamutu claimed the gold medal in the women’s race in 37.23 ahead of North Harbour’s Georgia Williams and Amelia Watkinson from Ramblers.

The nationals continue today with U15, U17 and women’s masters road races.