And the Winners were…………..
….the 46 people who took part in the Marlborough Mountain Bike Club Championships held at Endeavour Park and Victoria Domain, Picton on Sunday 15th March 2015. Hughey provided a glorious autumn day for the event.
John Pickering, Peter Webster and the team of helpers set up a challenging ‘long’ course with several climbs requiring use of technical skills as well and lungs and legs. Sarnim Dean blasted away from the start. He increased his lead each lap aided by a very proficient pit crew changing drink bottles at pace and shouting “Go faster Dad”. His overall time was just over I hr 19min. Mitchell Mol chased hard but made no impression. Glen Marfell and Justin Kennard had a long hard sprint for the line with Glen in front by a nose for third followed by both doing a Hollywood collapse on the ground. Susan van der Poel thought the course was harder than an iron man, or should that be iron woman. Alana Mcluckie and Kathryn Richards fought it out for the Vet Woman’s title with Kathryn’s secret practice not enough to hold Alana out.
But the day really belonged to the juniors. Owen Bradly and Cam Clemitt battled it out on the short course for two laps before Owen drew away. Both completed four laps in just either side of an hours riding. Cullum Sheard (6) completed two laps of the intermediate with Mother. Asha Claridge did three but with a navigational issue. Does the GPS need to be on the handle bars and not in the back pack Tristan?
Khan Beamsley (16) ground out four laps of the long course with Bailey McKay (15) completing two and Mitchell Blake a very creditable one lap.
The ‘mature’ guys also had some great duels. Luke Macann just held out Keil Boyton in the V2s and Bruce Hillis couldn’t quite run down Ron van Velzen in the V3s. John Pickering had an unchallenged victory in the V4s after Robert Kennedy withdrew after the first lap.
Hard luck story of the day goes to George Kennington who had a tangle with a small ferocious local after a good first lap. He sought some medical advice before carrying on for a couple more disrupted laps.
The after match at Le Café was well supported ending a great mountain bike outing. Thanks to Le Café for the use of the back room and Marlborough District Council for the use of the parks.
Kevin Wilson
Lap Times