Southland
Champions were crowned in categories ranging from under 13 to 85-plus in the Outdoor H&J Smith Southland Road and Time Trial Championships that took place over the weekend.
The time trial took place on Saturday, with riders facing rather challenging weather conditions as they set off on their solo efforts, from 10km for the under 13 riders to 25km for the more senior riders.
Peter Grandiek took out the masters men 85-plus division, braving the elements to complete his 15km race. The distance would not have been a challenge for Grandiek, who is planning a 100km fundraising ride for St John in October, in celebration of his 89th birthday.
On the other end of the scale, Poppy McIvor took the under 13 girls title, with Lachlan Kelly taking the under 13 boys title. The other winners were Caitlin Kelly (under 15 girls), Kayne Borrie (under 15 boys), Jaz McLeod (under 17 women), Marshall Erwood (under 17 men), Rhylee Akeroyd (under 19 women), Morgan Borrie (under 19 men), Julia Hunt (Elite women), Erin Criglington (Masters women), Neil Ungerer (Masters men 1), Andrew Lienert (Masters men 2), and Neil Familton (Masters men 3).
Sunday dawned with far more promising weather for the road race championships, which the cyclists certainly appreciated, as they faced up to 106km of racing, depending on division.
Poppy McIvor and Lachlan Kelly doubled up in the road race to add to their time trial titles in the U13 division, with Caitlin Kelly doing the same in the U15 girls division. In the under 15 boys race it came down to a photo finish, with Magnus Jamieson taking the win by the narrowest of margins over Kayne Borrie. Jaz McLeod added the road race title to her time trial title in the under 17 women division, with Marshall Erwood breaking clear of the rest of the field with some 30km to go to make it a time trial and road race double in the under 17 boys division.
Rhylee Akeroyd won the U19 women road race in a photo finish over Tyla Green to claim the double, while Hunter Gough took out the under 19 men road race in a tough 106km race that saw the u19, u23, and Elite men’s fields combined.
The under 23 men title went to Hamish Keast, who formed part of a lead group of five riders that split from the rest of the field early on during the race.
The Elite women title went to Julia Hunt, doubling up from the time trial, with Matt Zenovich taking out the Elite men title.
Erin Criglington claimed the masters women title with a strong solo effort, to go with her time trial victory, with Neil Ungerer also doubling up with the road race win in the masters men 1 division. The masters men 2 title went to Mike White, with Trevor McRae taking the masters men 3 title.
The next major event for Cycling Southland is the Memorial Race Classic on Saturday 26 September, with the Yunca Junior Tour of Southland coming up during the school holidays, from 2 to 4 October.