Van Bentum retains her title

GLOBE TROTTER: Defending champ Jessica van Bentum proved too strong again in the Premier Women's grade at the St John's Club Rivercity Speed Skating Tour. PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO 291114WCSMSKATING2.JPG

Defending champion Jessica van Bentum shook off jet lag and braved howling winds to retain her title in the Premier Women's grade at the fifth annual St John's Club Rivercity Speed Skating Tour on home turf at the weekend.

Van Bentum had just two days to recover from the long flight back from Europe before the two-day event began in Wanganui on Saturday.

She had spent most of the season training in Germany, but also competed in the Junior Worlds in Argentina just over a week ago, along with New Zealand teammates Rebecca Smith, also from Wanganui, and Diana Gibbs from Manawatu.

In howling winds, Van Bentum took five stage wins to Smith's two, while Gibbs picked up the win in the 200TT at Kowhai Park. Fourth place-getter Melissa White turned in an impressive performance for second in the 10K points race at Kowhai Park.

The racing was extremely close in nearly all the races with only a few metres separating the finishers.

Valley In Line's Georgia Hurley got herself into the mix on a number of occasions and Wanganui's Sophie Tang was fast if not strong enough over the whole distance.

"It was amazing, I was training with Kalon Dobbin, whose got a base in Germany."

Expat Kiwi Dobbin is a multiple world champion and trains the professional Arma Wheels team in the town of Geisingen.

The million-dollar, roofed facility is slightly more upmarket than van Bentum's home haunts like Kowhai Park and the Mitre 10 Mega parking lot.

She raced all around the European Cup circuit in Germany, Austria and Belgium, while competing at the world championships in Argentina.

"Really the standard is a lot different to New Zealand, there's a lot more skaters. I didn't do quite as well as I wanted at the worlds.

"I have improved a lot, hopefully in another year I'll improve on the base with Kalon."

The Premier Men's grade was dominated by Kapiti's Josh Whyte.

Whyte, who only the previous week had won a silver medal in the Junior Men's 500m at the World Championships in Argentina, had too much gas for his competitors and won every stage of the eight-stage event.

Wanganui's Andrew Jones was a revelation in nailing down the runnerup position from Manawatu's Shane Mihaere with five second places and an impressive display of endurance to add to his already credible turn of speed.

Wanganui's Eden Smith clinched fourth by one point from Manawatu's Tuata Reweti- Migo. Columbian skater German Tirado Obiedo was impressive, but injury cost him a higher ranking in the tour.