Medals for the Whanganui/Scotland connection

The training group from Whanganui who all won cycling medals at the World Masters Games. From left, Adam Hamlin, Gwyneth Rixon, Tamara Ross (back), Janice O'Brien, Victor Possee.

Team Arrow and its international lineup of three Whanganui cyclists and two Scottish residents cleaned up 12 medals at the World Masters Games last week.

The team farewelled their Scottish mates Victor Possee and Gwyneth Rixon yesterday morning after they have been training with them since December, under the tutelage of coach Lyall Hastie.

They joined locals Adam Hamlin, Janice O'Brien and Tamara Ross on the trek up to the Avantidrome in Cambridge, after the Whanganui trio had been working with Hastie since October to get ready - including having to 'peak' twice as they competed in the New Zealand Masters games at home in February.

Hastie said this made for a difficult training balance in between the two events, so he was rapt with the five rider's success.

"I couldn't believe [it], 12 medals is just unbelievable."

The large gathering of riders in Cambridge included Russians, Argentinians, Great Britons, Dutch, French and Australians.

The World Masters cycling programme began with the individual pursuit, with Rixon (Women's 60-65) winning gold, while O'Brien (65-70) continued her success from the NZ Masters with silver, and Hamlin (Men's 75-80) got bronze.

Next came the 500m time trial, as O'Brien won gold while breaking her current New Zealand record, as Rixon and Hamlin claimed silver.

Possee (Men's 75-80) rode will to earn a silver in the points race.

Last Friday was the sprint qualifying, with all the Whanganui contingent going through to the evening finals.

O'Brien won silver in a photo finish, while Rixon also got another silver and Hamlin grabbed bronze.

The last day of the module was the scratch races, where Ross (Women's 45-50) won bronze in a highly competitive field, while the Dutch and French riders made it tough for the Kiwis.

Possee got a well-deserved bronze to wrap up his campaign.

"A fantastic effort by all the riders, certainly the competition was a big step up from the NZ champs," said Hastie.

"Many world champions were competing, [and] the racing form of all New Zealand and overseas riders was top class, which was appreciated by the large crowds attending."