Veterans Ben Evans and Lee Johnstone will spearhead the Marsden Wheelers team attending the national club championships in Wanganui over Labour weekend. Evans scored an emphatic win in the 129km Hell of The North race which started and finished at Tutukaka on Sunday, continuing his current run of top 10 placingsin recent national level events. Johnstone won the Gallipoli Cup road race in Auckland earlier this year and, like Evans, has been mixing it with some of the country's best road racers all season. They were part of the field in the 140km Taupo to Napier Classic that included a vast array of New Zealand's best road racers including race winner Jeremy Yates and former Commonwealth Games medallist Gordon McCauley. Marsden Wheelers team manager Ruth Jarman said Evans in particular would hit the nationals in fine form. "He is certainly on track for a podium finish in his Master 1 class at the Nationals. "The experience Ben gained from placing 18th in the International Tour of New Caledonia last month, plus some dedicated training, is definitely showing." Another rider chasing the podium is 14-year-old Mathew Zenovich from Pakaraka. He placed second in Saturday's Auckland Centre Road Champs despite puncturing in the early stages of the 21km race, while in the lead. By chasing hard after a wheel change, he rode through the field to finish only 300m behind winner Alex Heaney (Counties-Manukau). Zenovich was also second overall in his age group in the NZ Individual Secondary School Champs at Mt Wellington in Auckland in September. Beijing Paralympian Fiona Southorn will also be riding in Marsden Wheelers colours, in the 20km women's time trial at the Wanganui event. "In previous seasons Fiona has ridden for Auckland's North Harbour but it will be an honour to have her riding for the Marsden Wheelers again this year," Jarman said. The Marsden Wheelers Team for the National Club champs is - Mathew Zenovich, Under-15 Boys time trial and road race; Ben Evans and Lee Johnstone, Master 1 Men road race; Fiona Southorn, Master 2 Women TT; Ruth Jarman, Master 4 Women TT.
