News
Magnus Jamieson sprinted to the win in the Stonewood Homes Gore to Invercargill Classic yesterday.
The event, organised by Cycling Southland, was contested over a 71km course in near perfect weather conditions, with riders starting from the Gore Town and Country Club and finishing opposite McQuarrie Park in Invercargill.
Run in a handicap format, Jamieson’s group set off 24 minutes behind the leaders on the road, with only the scratch group of Hunter Gough and Josh Burnett chasing them. Coming into Invercargill, all the groups apart from the two scratch riders had merged, making for a big bunch sprint to the line.
Jamieson hit the front early, and crossed the line with time to celebrate, ahead of Mike White in second and Luke McPherson in third. Tom Kerr and Andy Beale rounded out the top five, with Caitlin Kelly in sixth taking the trophy for the first woman across the line. Gough took the trophy for the fastest time on the day.
It was Jamieson’s first go at the open classic, having recently stepped up from the under 17 category.
Jamieson’s win came 19 years after his mother, Erin Criglington, won the same event.
In the 36km junior classic for under 15 and under 17 riders, Ollie Keast took the win and fastest time, ahead of Sean Threadgall and Poppy McIvor, while in the 16km junior classic for under 13 riders, Jamie Russell took the win and fastest time, ahead of Kyle Bonthuys in second and Noah Zwies, competing in his first road race, in third.
Jamieson (first overall), Kelly (first woman), and Gough (fastest time) each received a $500 prize, courtesy of race sponsor Brendan Akeroyd of Stonewood Homes.
“It was a good, successful day, and everyone enjoyed themselves. The prize money went to some good young up and coming riders, so you couldn’t ask for more,” he said.