A balmy Southland night greeted riders for the first day of the 2014 Southland Track Champs, with riders competing, some for the first time, in their Age Groups for next year.
With a number of visiting riders, and good sized fields in all categories, the stage was set for a fantastic weekend of racing.
First up were the Time Trials. In the U15 Division, the U15 Girls gold medal was taken out by Madeleine Gough in 41.606. Visiting riders Jessie Banks and Sammi Ogle were 2nd and 3rd in the event, but with only Southlanders eligible for medals, it was Emily Paterson who won the silver, from Lucy Dawkes in bronze. The U15 Boys race was won by a speedy Hamish Keast in 38.455, with Corbin Strong in silver position and with visiting rider Jared Pidcock next, it was local lad Taz O’Connell who took out the bronze.
The U17 racing was fast and furious, Southlanders in the first 3 spots in both the Girls and Boys races, Emma Cumming taking out the U17 Girls with a 39.95, from Sheree Horne and Aly Doherty. In the Boys division, it was smoking fast Hamish Beadle who won the gold medal with a 35.133 from Brayden Stephens and Tom Sexton.
The Master’s Divisions saw some great battles, with Sonya Barton winning the Masters 2 500m in 42.885 from Marie Muhl and visiting rider Shona McGrath Proctor. The Masters 1 Women saw the continued domination of World Masters Silver Medalist Erin Criglington, who took the win in a time of 38.437, from Cherie Champion and Kylea Gough.
Neil Familton took out the Masters 3 Men 500m in 37.744 with Simon Lusk in 2nd, and visiting rider Russell McGarry 3rd in the competition, but our very own legend Peter Grandiek taking out the bronze medal.
The Masters 2 Men 500m was won by local legend Jerry Stock in 36.746, from another local legend Garry Smith, with Roger Nicholas in 3rd. The Masters 1 Men 750m gold was won by a super strong Mike White in 51.056, with Brett Roulston 2nd and Derek Tan 3rd.
On to the Elites/U19 racing, and Steph McKenzie took the spoils in the Women’s competition in 35.218 from visiting riders Katie Schofield and Paige Paterson. With only Southlanders eligible for medals, the silver medallist was Kirstie James with Sequoia Cooper taking the bronze.
The Elite/U19 Men’s 1000m is always a feature event in the Southland Champs Programme, with the prestigious Stuart McLean Cup up for grabs. This year didn’t disappoint, with an outstanding battle right to the wire, Jeremy Presbury just taking the win with a 1.04.782 from Tom Beadle in 1.04.844. Nick Kergozou taking out the bronze.
The evening finished up with the Scratch Races, Maddy Gough making it a clean sweep for the night in the U15 Girls category, and while Jessie Banks from Mid-South Canterbury finished in 2nd, it was Southlander Nicole Marshall took out the silver, and Emily Paterson the bronze. The U15 Boys Race finished in almost the same order as their Time Trial, but this time Corbin Strong took the win from Hamish Keast and Jared Pidcock was again 3rd, meaning Taz O’Connell won the bronze medal.
The U17 scratch races saw a dominant Emma Cumming taking the gold in the Girls race, with visitors Kate Ward and Christine Lambley in 2nd and 3rd, leaving Sheree Horne with the Silver and Aly Doherty with Bronze.
The U17 Boys race was a pearler, with Brayden Stephens just pipping Hamish Beadle, with Tom Sexton in 3rd.
Masters 2 & 3 Men’s 5km Scratch was a battle of the strong-men, with Jerry Stock taking the win from Ant Leathart and Garry Smith, with Neil Familton taking the Master’s 3 title from Bruce Jones.
The Master’s 1 Men’s 5km Scratch ended in a fantastic sprint finish, with Mike White taking the win from Brendan Akeroyd, and a late attack from Derek Tan just getting caught on the finishing straight, but still earning him a bronze medal.
The final events of the night were the Elite and U19 Scratch Races, with visiting Christchurch rider Liz Steel taking the win, but with the gold medal given to 2nd place in the race, Southlander Sequoia Cooper, with Kirsite James in 2nd and Laura Heywood in 3rd.
The Elite and U19 Men’s race was won by a fast finishing Josh Haggerty, with an aggressive Nick Kergozou in 2nd and Josh van den Arend in 3rd.
And that is the wrap of Day 1! A fast moving and exciting night of racing!
View photos on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/cyclingsouthland