Laughing in the face of adversity

TOUGH NUT: Pictured in his BDO Cycle Challenge debut in 2013 Whanganui veteran Allan Luff laughed in the face of adversity to finish runner-up in his 70+ age group in a roughly-run 2017 version.

Whanganui athletes brushed danger, adversity, injury and tough terrain aside a they stamped their mark on the final BDO Wellington to Auckland Cycle Challenge that ended in Pukekohe on Saturday.

Fifteen Whanganu riders saddled for the gruelling 797.7km journey spread over 12 stages and seven days. Two of the stages were cancelled, however, with weather playing its part.
High winds and riving rain forced the Rimutuka Hill leg to Featherston and the Pahiatua Track run into Palmerston North to be canned.

The River City connection produced three age group podium finishes with Laurika Hazelhurst winning her 40-49 divison and finishing third overall in the women's grade. Rob Manson finished second in the 60-69 group and veteran Allan Luff runner-up in the 70+ grade.

While all had stories to tell, Luff's journey was perhaps one of the more testing regardless of his age - he turns 71 next month. This year was his third challenge.

On the run down the Okioa Hill toward the end of the Whanganui leg in Eastown Rd on Tuesday last week, Luff was knocked from his bike suffering bruising to mainly his arms.
He completed the leg and mounted up the next morning to tackle the bottom end of the Parapara to Kakatahi School on SH4.

On the afternoon leg a group of riders, including Luff, came across a mob of Friesian bulls on the Ohakune side of Fields Track. One charged the old timer kocking himto the ground.

"It just charged at me from across the road and sent me flying," Luff said yesterday.
"I didn't feel the best after that and in fact, I'm still on the medics list. I'm off to the doctor today."

The argument with the bull obviously affected his performance over the next two days in particular with his times reflecting this.

"I'm still sore now and bruising still has to come out in my legs and hip, but as long as I'm back in time for the World Masters Games in Auckland in April I'll be happy. There's a large group of us from the Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club competing," Luff said.

Seven of the 15 Whanganui riders were debuting inthe BDO event, while David Collins competed in the BDO corporate team.

First timer Bruce Middleton, a Waverley dairy farmer and arguably one of Wanganui's finest rugby loose forwards playing 119 games during 1974-1984, also crashed heavily justy short of the finish line of the hometown leg last Tuesday. He too remounted next morning and completed the entire event finishing sixth in his 60-69 group. Fellow debutante Darcy Forrester also finished sixth in his division (50-59).

First timers Pat Johnstone and Marsh Tangaroa retired early in the piece through illness.

A total of 180 solo riders competed with just 132 finishing last Sunday.
Whanganui results (with age group and overall placings) were: Clint Black 9th 60-69 (15th overall), Darcy Forrester 6th 50-59 (15th), Rob Manson 2nd 60-69 (24th), Bruce Middleton 6th 60-69 (34th), John Black 7th 60-69 (38th), Laurika Hazelhurst 1st 40-49 (42nd and 3rd woman home), Brian Hayward 17th 50-59 (43rd), Allan Luff 2nd 70+ (49th), Kerry Bennett 15th 40-49 (54th), Murray Macdonald 24th 50-59 (66th), John Hickey 12th 60-69 (76th) and Debbie Cain 9th 40-49 (123rd).