Cycling: Resilient festival riders carry on despite rain

Hamish Wood, 12, back to the checkered flag at Cooks Gardens during the Family Fun Ride in the Wanganui Festival of Cycling yesterday. Photo/Stuart Munro

The wind and rain proved a bit of a dampener on the Wanganui Festival of Cycling yesterday at Cooks Gardens, but the hardy were happy to brave the elements for a jaunt around the town.

About 30 riders, young and old, took part in the afternoon Family Fun Ride for the Life Education Trust, which started early at 1.30pm after a number of people who were going to take part went home following a burst of rain.

Mark Kennedy was the first back to Cook Gardens after the 9km journey across the bridges and passing Kowhai Park, closely followed by the mother and son team of Hamish and Sue Beissell.

"It was a lovely race, very well organised with all the marshalls you couldn't get lost," Kennedy said.

Sue Beissell said she enjoyed the challenge of chasing her 13-year-old mountain bike riding son to the line.

"That's why I bought a road bike, I would not have been able to keep up with him on a mountain bike."

In the morning, there were more than 40 entries for the Wanganui Gran Fondo 125km ride through Wanganui and Rangitikei hill country.

Regular Wanganui Cycling Club competitor Boaz Darby shook off his disappointing effort in the A Grade race of the John Bull Cup the day before to win the race in 3hr 37 min 11sec, leading home a group of four made up of Scott Ardern, Patrick Johnstone and Bevan Cheatley.

"It was a good ride, pretty tough hills," the 17-year-old Darby said.

"The wind going out was a head wind, coming back wasn't too bad.

"We split up pretty quick going over the first few climbs."

About 19 riders took part in the 30km Wanganui Gran Fondo short course race, with Rob Tyler finishing first in 1hr 4min 12sec, followed by Richard Dean and Peter Chapman.