Christchurch teenager Hamish Schreurs grabbed a first major victory in his young cycling career at the national club road championships in Hawkes Bay today.
Schreurs outsprinted a selected bunch of 11 riders to claim the under-19 honours over a demanding 116km course in the Matapiro-Crownthorpe region near Hastings.
It was a boost for the young rider ahead of the junior world track championships to be held in Invercargill in August.
It has been a year of near misses for Schreurs, who decided to focus on cycling after a promising representative start in football. He was second in the Australian road championships last year and recently pipped in a sprint finish to decide the Oceania road championship in Queenstown.
Today, a 50-strong group were together after the first of four laps before being reduced to 11 by mid-race, with eight riders clearing out on the final lap. Schreurs managed to get the better of Auckland's James Judd and Alexandra's Tom Vessey in the sprint to claim the victory.
It proved a frustrating day for time trial winner Dylan Kennett from Waimate, who punctured twice to ruin his chances.
Tomorrow's road races are highlighted by the elite women's race over 116km featuring the Olympic track cycling endurance team.
The championships finish on Sunday with the elite men's race.
Results from the national club road championships in Hawkes Bay today (Fri):
U19 men, 116km: Hamish Schreurs (Pegasus Cycling) 2:49:13, 1; James Judd (Counties Manukau Cycling) ST, 2; Tom Vessey (Central Otago-Wakatipu) ST, 3.
U15 boys, 29km: Campbell Stewart (Bike Manawatu) 49:31, 1; Sam Thorpe-Loversuch (Ramblers) 49:31, 2;
U15 girls, 29km: Mikayla Harvey (Counties Manukau Cycling) 55:09, 1; Michaela Drummond (Bike Manawatu) 55:09, 2; Jessica Read (Te Awamutu Sports Cycling) 55:09, 3.
U17 boys, 75km: Jordan Castle (Bike Manawatu) 2:00:36, 1; Regan Gough (Cycling CHB) 2:00:36, 2; Luke Mudgway (Cycling CHB) 2:00:36, 3.
U17 girls, 47km: Kate Stewart (Bike Manawatu) 1:25:12, 1; Phoebe Treseder (Cycling CHB) 1:25:12, 2; Madison Farrant (Hamilton City Cycling) 1:25:12, 3.
Masters 55-59, 58km: Steve Chapman (Port Nicholson Poneke) 1:33:14, 1; Ron Pithie (Pegasus Cycling) 1:33:14, 2; Graeme Blackwood (Counties Manukau Cycling) 1:33:14, 3.
Masters 66-69, 58km: Ross Gamble (Cycling Otago) 1:44:16, 1; Allan Luff (Wanganui Cycling) 1:44:16, 2; Bob Starr (Marsden Wheelers) 1:44:18, 3.
Masters 70 plus, 58km: Gary Ulmer (Counties Manukau Cycling) 1:42:07, 1; Neil Robinson (Gisborne Cycling) 1:42:07, 2; Garry Humpherson (Port Nicholson Poneke Cycling) 1:42:07, 3.
- APNZ
