Road Champs 2004
9/10/2004

RAMBLERS CYCLING CLUB – Saturday 09 October 2004

Patrick Kelly produced the stand out ride in the Ramblers Cycling Club Road Race Championships held from Bridge Pa School on Saturday to win the Vet 1 men’s grade.

The cool, damp weather, that has regularly featured in club races this year, was again present but little wind made racing conditions amicable for the 95 riders who registered. The under 19, under 23 and senior men raced three laps of the Valley Road / Raukawa Road circuit, a distance of 101km., the under 15 boys and girls raced one lap of 33km and all other grades completed two laps for 67km.

In the Vet 1 men’s (35-44 years old) race, Andrew Townsend ensured that the start was fast and furious by setting a good pace for the first kilometres. Kerry Harford and Bill Bailey attempted to break the field up over the first climb in Valley Road but only managed to dislodge a couple of riders. Once off the hill, David Joyce and T Taufale gained a small advantage over the pack and were left to sit out front for a while. This duo were brought back to the group after about 5km. A few riders tried attacking but most of the bunch weren't prepared to work and had fresh legs for the chases.

The second lap was a stop start affair with the only real action coming from Harford and Patrick Kelly as they attempted to break away. Kelly had numerous attempts to get clear but always found himself isolated and was quickly closed down by the pack. Coming into the last 15km, a small group managed to get off the front but this was short lived as strong riders like Townsend and Harford were caught in the second group.

With about 10km to go, Kelly attacked over the middle climb in Raukawa Road in what proved to be the decisive action of the race. He was joined by Mark Coombe as he crested the hill and Kelly set a furious pace down the other side to ensure they held the gap over the field. Once over the hill, the remaining bunch worked well together and chased hard after the leading duo. However, Kelly and Coombe were pushing even harder, driven by Kelly, who was riding like a man possessed, and giving it everything to stay ahead. As the finish line loomed, Coombe tried to sneak past for the victory but Kelly powered past him to take a well deserved and hard fought victory. The more favoured riders, such as defending champion Kerry Harford, who is also the current A grade Spring series leader and 2004 National Championships medal contender, Andrew Townsend and Bill Bailey were left to fight it out for the minor places. Bill Bailey won the bunch sprint to take third place with Sam Baudinet fourth, Darryl Strachan fifth and Andrew Townsend sixth.

In the combined under 19 and under 23/Senior Men’s race, with senior rider Jason Kelly still suffering from the illness which forced him to miss the Club time trial championships two weeks ago, a slow pace eventuated on the first lap. This allowed under 23 rider Josh Page to establish a large lead. He was joined by under 19 rider Andrew Pollock, recently returned from the World Championships, near the end of the first lap. The peleton eventually did some work and closed the gap down by the end of the second lap. On the third time up Valley Road, Kelly was further hampered when a shoe cleat broke which forced him off the back of the bunch and restricted his ability to ride hard. However, a continued slow pace allowed him to rejoin the bunch and lead the peleton sedately back into Raukawa Road.

The under 19 riders, who were contesting their own race, were left to ride away on the first Raukawa Road climb on the final lap after Pollock attacked and established a solo lead. Josh Brannigan and Tom Warren soon launched a chase but finished second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, the under 23/senior race continued with no rider establishing a gap until the final few kilometres when Dan Warren went clear. The bunch failed to react and Kelly, followed by Page, managed to power across the gap. With Kelly and Warren working together, the remaining peleton were left to sprint for fourth place. Warren took the sprint from a gallant Page with Kelly settling for third place due to his broken cleat hindering his ability to sprint. Mark Matthews capped off a strong ride to secure fourth place with Eddie Jenkins taking fifth and Gavin Povey sixth.

In the under 15 girls race, Ella Sadler-Andrews took the title from Kirstin Hartley who finished second.

Austen Thomson was too strong in the under 15 boys race and won with Jed Usherwood second, Sean Joyce third, Ben McFadyen fourth and Sam Riddell fifth.

The under 17 boys race saw Westley Gough and Robert Collins ride away and team time trial the course with Gough winning from Collins. Hayden Schofer finished third with Ian Clark fourth and Alisdair Mackenzie fifth.

Determined to improve on her 4th place in last years National Championships, Vet 2 woman Susan Tunnicliff showed she is on target for a medal by riding strongly and winning the grade from Rosemary Weskett who finished second. Margaret Radich and Julie Williams fought out the Vet 1 women’s title with Radich winning. Sirpa Lajunen & Anna Mackenzie secured third equal place.

In the Vet 3 Men, Roy van Panhuys also showed he is on target to be a medal contender at this year’s Nationals by winning from Derek Ward with Charlie Fergus third, Bryan Yates fourth, Dave Marett fifth and Mick Cull sixth. Peter Gavin continued his strong form to win the Vet 2 men’s title from Tony Blades with Bruce Galloway third, Ken Tunnicliff fourth, Paul Roberts fifth and Wayne Hawkins sixth.

The Senior Women’s title was won by Gemma Newland who added this to her club individual time trial title won a fortnight ago.

There is no Club racing next weekend as the 14th annual Tour of the Bay funride is being held on Sunday. Entries are possible on the day but entry as early as possible is encouraged. A total field of over 1,000 riders is expected across the three distances of 10km, 50km and 110km.


Ramblers Cycling Club Results – Road Race Club Championships 9 October 2004 – Bridge Pa

U 15 Girls - 33 km
Ella Sadler-Andrews (1.09.47) 1; Kirstin Hartley 2.

U15 Boys - 33 km
Austen Thomson (58.27) 1; Jed Usherwood 2; Sean Joyce 3; Ben McFadyen 4; Sam Riddell 5.

U17 Boys - 67 km
Westley Gough (1.47.40) 1; Robert Collins 2; Hayden Schofer 3; Ian Clark 4; Alisdair Mackenzie 5.

Vet 2 Women - 67 km
Susan Tunnicliff (2.06.50) 1; Rosemary Weskett 2.

Vet 1 Women - 67 km
Margaret Radich (2.06.50) 1; Julie Williams 2; Sirpa Lajunen & Anna Mackenzie 3=.

Vet 3 Men - 67 km
Roy van Panhuys (1.52.11) 1; Derek Ward 2; Charlie Fergus 3; Bryan Yates 4; Dave Marett 5; Mick Cull 6.

Vet 2 Men - 67 km
Peter Gavin (1.52.11) 1; Tony Blades 2; Bruce Galloway 3; Ken Tunnicliffe 4; Paul Roberts 5; Wayne Hawkins 6.

Senior Women - 67 km
Gemma Newland (2.08.00) 1.

U19 Men - 101 km
Andrew Pollock (2.42.56) 1; Josh Brannigan 2; Tom Warren 3.

Vet 1 Men - 67 km
Patrick Kelly (1.47.50) 1; Mark Coombe 2; Bill Bailey 3; Sam Baudinet 4; Darryl Strachan 5; Andrew Townsend 6.

U23 & Senior Men - 101 km
Dan Warren (2.43.00) 1; Josh Page 2; Jason Kelly 3; Mark Matthews 4; Eddie Jenkins 5; Gavin Povey 6.