09 RaboPlus Club Nat photos....

2009 RaboPlus Club Nationals in Upper Moutere, photos at www.cyclingphotos.co.nz
Also try http://picasaweb.google.com/RamblersPics/

Medals elude Ramblers Day Three Road Races

A difficult day for Ramblers, with a strong team of 5 riders in the under 17 boys hopes were high for more medal glory. Alex McCrory-Bowick from Counties Manakau rode a strong race breaking away from the bunch with a lap to go with Dion Smith and Nick Sutton to take the medals in that order. Duncan McKenzie rode bravely early in the race for the team to shut down early attacks and destroyed his own chances for a medal. Tim Lutter, Lance Welch and Sam Clark all rode well working for the team and stayed with the bunch until getting shelled at the top of the hill in the last lap. Fraser Gough (team leader)was unable to respond to Alex's attack and had to settle for the bunch sprint taking an unconfirmed 4th.




In the Senior mens combined with the under 23's Jeremy Yates looked strong and comfortable early in the race. There was an early break of 4 riders who whittled down to 1 (Jack Bower from PNP Wellington). The pack kept him in range and several riders including Hayden Godfrey, James Williamson, Robin Reid got across to Jack with a recovering from a cold, Jeremy unable to respond. The race was easily one by Haden Godfrey, Jack Bower 2nd and Robin Reid taking the bronze. U23 winner Louis Crosby stayed with the small leading group leaving the others to fight it out in a bunch sprint.Dillon Stewart the only other Ramblers rider had a strong ride for over half of the race and finished with several others several minutes of the pace.

With the Nationals date changed to May next year in Hawkes Bay many Ramblers must have opted not to make the journey south for this meeting and has resulted in the Medal count being down on the previous two Nationals. This should be rectified next year on the planned Crownthorpe circuit which should make for exciting racing.

Thanks to the Star and Garter Cycling Club for a well run Road Race event with great traffic management on a sometimes busy road. A picturesque and challenging but fair course in the Upper Moutere, with the weather generally being good lead to an enjoyable 4 days of racing.

Check out the photos of day two here Here

Day 2 Nationals Road Races

Kerry Harford brings home the gold for the 2nd year in a row for the Vet 3 men, one of the strongest categories for Ramblers but with a depleted contingent showing at Nationals. Kerry's form backing up his gold medal from last year was outstanding having to do a lot of work to keep the peleton under control.

Check out this great photo from Danielle Harford of Kerry on the finish line



The senior women's grade was won by Gabrielle Vermunt after being away for most of the 128km circuit with Karen Fulton. Gabrielle attacked on the last hill 14km out to ride home solo. Su Daniels sacrificed herself early in the race to try and help Serena Sheridan and Kerri-Anne Torckler keep the leaders gap manageable. Bridget Robertshawe also helped but her lack of recent road races took it's toll on the 4th lap after chasing back on, on the 3rd. Kerri-Anne and Serena failed to motivate a strong contingent to bring back the leading two and both had run out of legs for the bunch sprint for 3rd.

Jeremy Stephens and Sean Joyce had great rides to finish top 20 in a very strong bunch in the u19 men taken out by Patrick Bevin continuing his great form including winning the Tour of the Bay. Jeremy has continued to improve and will be one to watch in the future. Sean riding after his altercation with a car in the Tour of the Bay rode bravely and may still have a wrist injury to contend with.

Neil Evans and Rob Taylor both had a crack in the Vet 2 Mens with Neil finishing around 20th but several minutes off the lead in a race that never let up on a short circuit that grinds the power out of your legs.

Day 1 Road Races Nationals 2009

The early rain cleared to leave a dry road for the early event the under 15 boys who completed two laps of the undulating Upper Moutere Circuit. With 3 riders in the grade ramblers were hopeful for a medal and Regan Gough complied getting a bronze in a big bunch sprint with most of the starters in the finish. Tobias Robertshawe and James Lochhead both had good rides assisting where possible.

The under 17 girls had a very good race and the pace was high throughout. Megan Watson had equipment trouble and was disappointed to be out of the race early. Favourite Sophie Williamson attacked on the tricky descent and was undone by some fresh cattle effluent unkinldly spilt by a truck on a tight corner. She and 1 other rider also bought down remounted but were unable to get back to the bunch who kept the pressure on. The 3 laps took there toll on a few riders and a depleted bunch sprint was won by Brittany Thompson from Te Awamutu.

Sue Tunnicliff complemented her Silver from the TT with a well won Gold in the Vet 5 Womans event. The 64km track whittled the field consisiting of Vet 4,5,6 woman down to a bunch of 5. Sue was careful to ensure that Denese Keenan who won the TT yesterday was unable to get past on the line.

Bruce Galloway, Ian Fraser and Wally Woods were a force in the Vet 5 mens event. This race had lots of drama with several punctures and mechanicals. Wally worked hard early and paid the price on the 4th lap of 5 on the 16km road circuit having already ridden back to the bunch on the 4th. Ian Fraser and Bruce kept the pressure on along with Pat Johnstone, Gary Overend and managed to get the field reduced to 8 out of the 20 starters. Ian had a good sprint after being caught out the front leading into the final straight and pipped Bruce to take the Bronze.




Tomorrow Kerry Harford and Steve Watson compete in the vet 4 mens.
Kerri-Anne Torkler, Bridget Robertshawe, Serena Sheridan and Su Daniel in the open woman. Neil Evans and Rob Taylor in the Vet 2 Mens. Sarah Watson in the Under 19 woman.
Sean Joyce, Jeremy Stevens and Simon Pepper under 19 Mens

Ramblers bring home gold from Nationals Time Trial at Nelson

The sun come out an managed to shine on a depleted Ramblers time trial contingent in the Upper Moutere west of Nelson. Fraser Gough continued his outstanding form to take the Gold in a class field in the under 17 boys event with Peter Bulling 2nd and the first year Hayden McCormick taking the Bronze. Duncan McKenzie coming back from injury finished a creditable 6th in one of the largest fields of the day. Lance Welch, Tim Lutter and Sam Clarke all rides finishing mid field.

The flying Bruce Galloway had his wings slightly clipped by Garry Overend to take the Silver in the Vet 5 category Wally Woods had a tough day and finished out of the money.

Click for Fraser Gough on Podium

Sue Tunnicliff also had medal success taking Silver in the Masters 5 Woman with the gold going to an outstanding ride by Denese Keenan.
Sue Tunnicliffe grabs the Silver
The under 15 boys was well competed by Regan Gough, Tobias Robertshawe and James Lochhead with timing technical glitches keeping us waiting for the results.

Kerri-Anne Torkler, Serena Sheridan and Bridget Robertshawe were pipped and missed out on the medals in the open womans. Megan Watson finished mid field in a strong under 17 girls with a great ride by Sophie Williamson a first year U17 taking the gold for Wakatipu Club.

Bruce Galloway giving it a caning

Nelson Nationals Provisional Start Times 2009

For those who want a start list after scratchings changed order in book.

Note these are unofficial and riders should ensure they get to the race with time to confim.

Here

Tour of the Bay Confirmation Information

Only 1 week to go folks -

Check entry confirmation details Here

Ramblers Photos

The Ramblers photo albums have moved and are now been hosted by Google's Picasa Web Site.

This gives us 1GB (for non techno-phobes - heaps) of free space and will allow for better management and ease of upload for Ramblers Members.

For Ramblers Members who have photos to contribute contact me via info@ramblers.co.nz and I can arrange for a temporary Login to the Picasa web site. You will need to download the client (A great little photo editor) Here to allow for ease of upload and album management.

- the best way to view each album is to click on the album and then the slide show tab at the top left of page View Album Here or navigate from Photo's link on Ramblers Web site Here

Sunday 1st November

The Tour de Manawatu 2009 is fast approaching. A new 80 km option has been added this year to the normal 20,45 and 116 km options. Once again the Tour is a perfect lead up for Taupo three weeks afterwards.

We would love to see a really big turnout this year.

www.tourdemanawatu.org.nz

Criterium Results and Commentary

Check out these two links for articles and results from the recent Nationals Criterium held in Hastings

http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=1&t=0&id=42641

http://www.roadcycling.co.nz/RaceTalk/te-awamutu-duo-win-national-criterium-titles.html