Cycling
Warm conditions and a moderate westerly breeze greeted 40 riders on Tuesday in the final event of the season for Athletic and Cycling Masterton's cycling section, a road race held over two laps of the Francis Line circuit.
Mass starts are always the moment of truth, especially with the sharp hill right at the start point in Francis Line.
By the time the field swung left into Bristol Road, it was already strung out and, as usual, it did not take long for the cream to rise to the top, the pecking order being established early as two long groups formed.
A moment's inattention on the course did see two riders take a tumble and again proved the veracity of helmet wearing; one of which was split by the tarmac.
Individually, young Matt Gillan, still in junior ranks, excelled himself by staying with riders quite considerably his senior and he posted an excellent time in the process.
Ben Knight, on the other hand, was still in recovery mode from his Easter Tour excursions and cruised along at the back of the field, much to the satisfaction of riders unused to such esteemed company.
John Murray returned to the fold after eight weeks of moon-boot wearing and finished in his usual bluster of heaving shoulders and wide grin while Lesley Mouat and Donna Burkhart contested hard for the top-of-the-hill spoils and were rewarded with the same time, although the Rev Mouat was given the nod placing-wise.
Pete James did his best to jump clear of the field about midway through the second lap but he and the "mad dog" who went with him were swallowed up by their compatriots before too long.
Mention must be made of the tandem combination of father-and-daughter Craig and Jenna Mangin who magnanimously led out at the finish, propelling the same Pete James to line honours in 49min 49s. Andrew Linton was second and the Mangins third.
Placings and finishing times:
Pete James 45.49, Andrew Linton 45.51, Craig and Jenna Mangin 46.03, John Chesmar 46.58, Terry Blackburn 46.59, Lawrence Field 47.03, Chris Smith 47.15, Earle Whitcombe 48.22, Simon Butlerb 48.25, Darren Southon 48.26, Devan Simmonds 49.30, Mike Clinton-Baker 49.30, Ricky Blade 49.42, Lesley Mouat 50.00, Donna Burkhart 50.00, Anthony Morris 51.12, Matt Gillan 51.13, Grant Burkhart 51.15, Douglas Maclachlan 51.16, Mike Parker 51.16, Andrew Curtis-Cody 51.17, Steve Brown 51.21, Chris Bunny 52.46, Rodger Skerton 52.48, John Murray 52.54, Richie Butler 52.55, Dave Howden 54.21, Stan Braaksma 54.21, Viv Bunny 54.23, Megan Simpson 54.28, Anil Raman 54.30, Ben Knight 54.32, Jo Van Woerkom 1.00.36, George Evans 1.00.40, Dave McKinlay 1.00.40. Did not finish: Jeff Saywell, Tom McCallum, Brian Sanders, Mike Sutton, Warwick Burr.