Manson in mix as Cycle Challenge powers on

SADDLE UP: Brian Hayward, one of three Whanganui riders in the BDO Wellington to Auckland Cycle Challenge, prepares to head out on the next leg to Kakatahi yesterday morning after rolling into his hometown on Tuesday in 38th place overall.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Cricket by Iain Hyndman
Only the barest of margins separated the overall leaders of the BDO Wellington to Auckland Cycle Challenge as it rocked into Whanganui to end stage five of the 13-stage seven-day trip north.

Australian Phil Kesby was just 00.02 seconds ahead of Canterbury's Greg Thompson as they left Whanganui early yesterday morning for Kakatahi on SH4 and then on to Ohakune via Fields Track.

The first four in the leading bunch, including Kesby and Thompson, are in the 50-59 age group, while the first of the three Whanganui riders is Rob Manson (60-69) was in eighth place overall and second in his age group. Manson was leading his age group before embarking on the Manawatu to Whanganui leg.

Manson sits second behind former Whanganui athlete David Williamson.

Fellow Whanganui competitors Brian Hayward (50-59) and Debbie Cain (40-49) were both in reasonable positions within their age groups.

Hayward was 17th in his age group and 38th overall, while Cain was in 75th position overall and 7th in her age group.

Hayward's life partner Nicky Plane said he was well ahead of where he was at the same stage last year and feeling comfortable, although he did sleep in yesterday morning and was forced to scramble to make the early morning start.

The top female Georgie Chadwick (30-39) from Wellington was some 15 minutes ahead of her nearest rival and was sitting in 6th place overall before leaving yesterday.

Organiser Stephen Cox said the challenge had run relatively smoothly since leaving Lower Hutt on Sunday with no serious incidents or injuries to report from the 80 or more individual riders or the corporate teams made up of another 80 riders. The leading corporate team was the sponsor's BDO No1 team.

The challenge ends in Pukekohe on Saturday.