Tonight’s offering of a 35 km Handicapped Race that began at Gladstone Church, raced south to Mahupuku Road and then turned to head north and finish at the top of the iconic Kourarau Climb attracted 44 riders. This is a demanding course that required each of the handicapped bunches to work well together over the predominantly flat and fast beginning of the course. Then it also required enough energy to be left in the tank to enable a steady but rapid climb of approximately 6 km right from the bottom to the top of the Kourarau Hill Road.

The results show that riders experienced mixed fortunes in each of the bunches. Even though Limit, and Break 2 started as the largest bunches, the Kourarau climb broke them to bits. In fact across all the start groups Kourarau was the decisive element with only a few riders able to hang onto each other’s wheels and work together on the climb. So the riders who were most successful were those with strength to ride fast on the flat, but also great hill climbing ability, combined with some grit and determination.

Congratulations tonight to Finn Roberts who started in Break 2 and managed to ride away from his bunch and catch all the riders from Limit who started 4 minutes in front of him to win the handicap race overall and be the fastest Junior Boy to complete the long course. Kirsten Goodin was the first woman to finish tonight. Ben Knight, starting in Scratch, demonstrated all the skills of strength, speed and climbing ability to be the fastest man tonight. Belinda Fuller, starting in Break was the fastest woman. Congratulations to Sydney Blackburn who out-sprinted Kate Speedy to take line honours in the short course race. I believe congratulations are due to every rider who managed to complete the course tonight, that was one massive effort by every rider.

As always, many thanks to Brent our Race Manager, and all the marshals who looked after us so well once again. Next week we return to a Mass Start Road Race up Norfolk Road, starting at the Waingawa Industrial Estate.

Full results from tonight can be found below. Finally a reminder to everyone to get your entries in for both the ACM hosted inter club which will be held on Sunday 17th March, and also to our joint social function to be held on Saturday, 23rd March.

Shute	No	Rider	Start time	Finish Time	Ride Time
9	40	Finn Roberts	0:04:00	1:15:25	1:11:25	1st & 1st Junior
10	48	Caleb Roberts	0:00:00	1:15:56	1:15:56
11	72	Rex Dowding	0:04:00	1:16:03	1:12:03
12	34	Kirsten Goodin	0:00:00	1:16:17	1:16:17	1st Woman
13	87	Stephen Yeats	0:04:00	1:16:36	1:12:36
14	16	Julie Millar	0:00:00	1:16:38	1:16:38
15	60	John Allen	0:04:00	1:17:07	1:13:07
16	100	Steve Brown	0:04:00	1:17:48	1:13:48
17	76	Peter Lee	0:04:00	1:18:41	1:14:41
18	18	Dave Drummond	0:13:00	1:18:49	1:05:49
19	153	Simon Mole	0:09:00	1:19:04	1:10:04
20	5	Lesley Mouat	0:09:00	1:19:10	1:10:10
21	13	Ben Knight	0:17:00	1:19:20	1:02:20	Fastest Man
22	70	Simon Pumfrey	0:17:00	1:19:48	1:02:48
23	77	Terry Blackburn	0:09:00	1:20:00	1:11:00
24	50	Earle Whitcombe	0:04:00	1:20:02	1:16:02
25	21	Anil Raman	0:00:00	1:20:19	1:20:19
26	45	Donna Burkhart	0:04:00	1:20:28	1:16:28
27	51	Dave Hodder	0:00:00	1:20:49	1:20:49
28	36	Devan Simmonds	0:13:00	1:21:05	1:08:05
29	10	Belinda Fuller	0:13:00	1:21:07	1:08:07	Fastest Woman
30	43	John Murray	0:00:00	1:21:46	1:21:46
31	117	Simon Butler	0:13:00	1:21:50	1:08:50
32	46	Derek Roberts	0:17:00	1:21:57	1:04:57
33	2	Andi Bond	0:04:00	1:22:07	1:18:07
34	19	Duncan Ellis	0:00:00	1:22:23	1:22:23
35	119	Jeff Saywell	0:17:00	1:22:31	1:05:31
36	3	Mark Jerling	0:00:00	1:22:54	1:22:54
37	85	Viv Bunny	0:00:00	1:22:55	1:22:55
38	31	Jenny Devenport	0:00:00	1:22:56	1:22:56
39	69	Pete James	0:09:00	1:24:19	1:15:19
40	12	Ricky Blade	0:09:00	1:24:20	1:15:20
41	73	Erik D’Arbois	0:17:00	1:29:11	1:12:11
42	57	Karen Blade	0:00:00	1:33:46	1:33:46
43	75	Andrew Curtis-Cody	0:09:00	DNF	DNF
44	17	Stan Braaksma	0:00:00	DNF	DNF
Short course
Shute	No	Rider	Start time	Finish Time	Ride Time
1	78	Sydney Blackburn	0:18:00	0:54:40	0:36:40	1st Junior Girl
2	0	Kate Speedy	0:18:00	0:54:41	0:36:41
3	154	Jono Didsbury	0:18:00	0:58:04	0:40:04
4	156	Jaimee Blackburn	0:18:00	1:00:06	0:42:06
5	65	Annabelle Smith	0:18:00	1:02:08	0:44:08
6	144	Katherine Domanski	0:18:00	1:02:24	0:44:24
7	71	Bruce McCallum	0:18:00	1:03:58	0:45:58
8	74	Rod Sutherland	0:18:00	1:13:55	0:55:55

The final club race for 2018 proved to be quite a challenge for a number of reasons. Firstly, this should have been a course for the climbers – with plenty of ‘up’ to deal with, however the original course needed to be amended and shortened thereby reducing the amount of ‘up’ available to the climbers. This was because of some brand new seal having been laid on the far side of Hinekura. The next challenge was presented by the windy conditions this evening. As the race began the prevailing Westerly wind was doing it’s thing. Out on course the wind became quite swirly, making riding conditions quite difficult especially for the lighter riders who were being blown around rather more than the more solid riders.

The next challenge faced by all the bunches was trying to stay together and work as a team as this was a handicapped race. It was noticeable that the short course riders had a real struggle with this and many of them ended up being dropped and riding either in pairs or by themselves. They were not alone in their struggle and in the end a number of riders were dropped from across each of the groups.

The final challenge tonight was one that, thankfully, is very rare indeed – the disappearance of a rider. Arguably our most well travelled cyclist, Donna, managed to get lost and rode off course. Instead of heading out and climbing Hinekura with her bunch, she was one of those riders who was dropped early on, and finding herself all alone she then took the more usual left turn at Pope’s Head and rode towards Longbush. The Marshall who was at that turn didn’t realise Donna was in the race, so didn’t manage to re-direct her. It was a while before Donna realised her mistake and turned her bike around to head back towards Martinborough, by which time quite the search party had set out to scour the course and its ditches. All’s well that ends well, and we were all relieved when Donna was found, safe, well and riding her bike somewhat tired and just a little embarrassed! 

So congratulations tonight go firstly to Jorge Sandoval as the first rider home on a tough course much of which was ridden all by himself. For his win he scored a nice bottle of Rose! Secondly, to Kirsten Goodin who was the first woman home. Thirdly, congratulations to Sydney Blackburn as the first rider home on the short course. Fourthly, to Mark Langlands and Belinda Fuller, once again fastest man and woman. Lastly, congratulations to our youngest riders tonight Scarlett Freeman, and Annabelle Smith, who found the going really tough tonight. But even though they had to walk a little when the wind was in their face up the hills, they refused to give up, and were proud to ride themselves to the finish. Good stuff girls!

Once again tonight the BBQ emerged to refuel all the crew. Many thanks to Dave and TK Winery for a lovely venue and some much needed refreshments. Thanks also to everyone who has made racing possible – the Race Manager, Time Keeper, folks who set the course, STMS and traffic management, Marshalls and their convenor, and the social committee.

Racing takes a break now until the second Tuesday in January. So wishing you all a very Happy Blessed Christmas, and a restful summer break.

Shute order	Race No	Rider	Start time	Finish time	Ride time
1	81	Jorge Sandoval	0:00:00	0:55:51	0:55:51	Winner
2	21	Anil Raman	0:00:00	0:56:49	0:56:49
3	34	Kirsten Goodin	0:00:00	0:56:49	0:56:49	1st woman
4	89	Emily Lutyens	0:07:00	0:57:16	0:50:16
5	4	Dean Southey	0:07:00	0:57:16	0:50:16
6	115	Robert Jaques	0:07:00	0:57:17	0:50:17
7	72	Rex Dowding	0:07:00	0:57:18	0:50:18
8	27	Daniel Jaques	0:07:00	0:57:28	0:50:28
9	2	Andi Bond	0:07:00	1:01:07	0:54:07
11	23	Jay Sowry	0:07:00	1:01:10	0:54:10
14	96	Andrew Linton	0:13:00	1:02:15	0:49:15
15	77	Terry Blackburn	0:13:00	1:02:18	0:49:18
16	10	Belinda Fuller	0:13:00	1:02:19	0:49:19	Fastest woman
17	41	Gareth Price	0:13:00	1:02:24	0:49:24
18	5	Lesley Mouat	0:13:00	1:02:24	0:49:24
19	12	Ricky Blade	0:13:00	1:02:28	0:49:28
20	90	Mark Langlands	0:20:00	1:03:26	0:43:26	Fastest man
21	22	Dominic Green	0:17:00	1:03:27	0:46:27
22	36	Devan Simmonds	0:17:00	1:03:27	0:46:27
23	54	Dave Shephard	0:17:00	1:03:30	0:46:30
24	69	Peter James	0:17:00	1:03:31	0:46:31
25	13	Ben Knight	0:20:00	1:03:33	0:43:33
26	61	Darren Southon	0:17:00	1:03:33	0:46:33
27	16	Julie Millar	0:07:00	1:04:44	0:57:44
29	70	Simon Pumfrey	0:20:00	1:05:26	0:45:26
31	75	Andy Curtis-Cody	0:13:00	1:05:54	0:52:54
34	117	Simon Butler	0:17:00	1:08:43	0:51:43
35	83	Mike Wilkinson	0:17:00	1:08:44	0:51:44
37	18	Dave Drummond	0:20:00	1:10:54	0:50:54
33	92	Phil Sutherland	0:17:00	DNF
40	45	Donna Burkhart	0:07:00	DNF
Short Course
10	78	Sydney Blackburn	0:20:00	1:01:09	0:41:09	1st
12	17	Stan Braaksma	0:20:00	1:01:27	0:41:27	1st man
13	57	Karen Blade	0:20:00	1:01:27	0:41:27
28	55	Doug Maclachlan, Meri Murphy	0:20:00	1:05:12	0:45:12	Tandem
30	154	Jono Didsbury	0:20:00	1:05:31	0:45:31	1st Junior boy
32	157	Kate Port	0:20:00	1:06:14	0:46:14
36	156	Jaimee Blackburn	0:20:00	1:08:49	0:48:49
38	11	Scarlet Freeman	0:20:00	1:16:17	0:56:17
39	65	Annabelle Smith	0:20:00	1:17:12	0:57:12