CYCLING: While the Wanganui Road Cycling Club's top riders, including new national champion Catherine Sell, were chasing national honours in Hokitika, it was business as usual for the rest of the locals on Saturday.
The 40km handicapped event saw a field of 27 riders race from Talbot Street to the top
of the Aberfeldy hill on the Parapara highway, and return.
Victory went to Darcy Forrester, co-winner of the club's summer series, having his first race back in a new campaign. On the outward leg, Forrester and his fellow limit markers combined well, though Paul Darby, pursued by Dianne Puklowski, established a break on the ascent to the turnaround.
By halfway the rest of the field had made good inroads, with Geoff Springer from the second break group keeping his rivals honest and further back, scratch rider Shane Pointon applying the heat as he progressed through the field, catching and passing Doug Bennett, Don Humphrey and Tony Sinclair off break.
By the bottom of the Aberfeldy descent, Forrester, and Puklowski, accompanied by veterans Mike Shingles and Mike Black had recaptured Darby, and this quintet maintained a strong tempo in quest of the win.
Although the chasers continued to make ground on the leaders, with the flying Pointon bridging across to Springer's group they were ultimately unable to peg back the front five.
At the finish, Forrester produced the best sprint to take the narrowest of victories from Dianne Puklowski , also resuming after a break, with Mike Shingles filling third place. Paul Darby hung on for fourth ahead of Mike Black.
A minute and a half back Shane Pointon charged home for sixth in the day's fastest time, with break riders Herc Thomson and John Black, who had both ridden strongly, next in. There were no separate juniors or novices races held.
Results:
Senior 40km handicap: Darcy Forrester 1, Dianne Puklowski 2, Mike Shingles 3.
Fastest times: Shane Pointon, 1:01:05 1, Tony Sinclair, 1:03:10 2, Doug Bennett 1:03:10 3.
