The big guns may have stolen the limelight in Sunday's annual Wanganui Cycling Grand Prix but there were some fine efforts turned in by local riders in the supporting races.
Events on the undercard included races for U15 and U17 competitors, and B and C grade riders. Racing was conducted around the testing Oceania circuit which saw riders travel in a 22km loop from the start at Brunswick Hall, down Brunswick Road, across to Kai Iwi and return via Goat Valley on State Highway 3 and Western Line.
The only local winner on the day was Brian Scrimshaw, who scored a 42-second win in the three-lap C-grade event, which had a field of 20 starters.
In an action-packed race, Scrimshaw bided his time in the main bunch until making his winning effort on the final lap. Earlier on, local Martin Hogan had livened things up with a powerful attack on Brunswick Road early on the second lap which saw him go well clear of the peloton. With the other Wanganui riders unprepared to chase their clubmate, it was left to the visitors to try and bring Hogan back to the fold.
After a vain attempt to bridge the gap, a Wellington rider swung wide and carted Wanganui's Garry Winchcombe across the road and into the ditch on the right-hand side. Showing great composure, Winchcombe managed to stay upright and get back on to the tar-seal. After a short chase, he got back on to the main group and right back into the action. Of the other locals, New Zealand junior track representative, Cassie Cameron was still looking fresh and Paul Forrest was climbing easily, as was veteran Allan Luff. The surprise packet was Gareth Wright - the Wanganui man is better known for multisport but was riding well, never far from the front of the main bunch.
Hogan's attempt at a long-range breakaway faltered on the day's main ascent - the field finally reeling him in halfway up the Goat Valley climb.
It was at the same point a lap later that Scrimshaw successfully launched his winning bid - getting an unexpected gap at the top of the climb and making the most of it, despite having almost half a lap and another decent hill to contend with. Behind him, the field splintered under pressure and by the time a chase was organised, Scrimshaw was gone.
Powering up the Western Line climb, Scrimshaw extended his lead, and by the finish was clear by a convincing margin. Visitor Peter Wilkinson just held off Gareth Wright in the sprint for second - Wright's third placing his best in road racing to date. Forrest and Luff were in the photo for fourth and fifth - finishing in that order, and crediting Wanganui with four of the top five placings. Scrimshaw's win was a tribute to the efficiency of his training - the busy GP having to juggle his cycling with work and family commitments.
Although they lined up with the A-graders in the premiere event - the race for the John Bull Cup over 88km (4 laps) of the course - the B-grade field was soon in a race of its own for category honours. With the main contenders for overall victory, including eventual winner Nick Lovegrove and his Subway Pro-Cycling teammate Sam Horgan (third place) off up the road, some interesting battles developed behind them.
Wanganui's Duncan Appleton got away with a companion on lap three, but lacking in long racing miles on the road after the mountain bike season, he blew out on the final lap.
Further back, fellow club members Brent Bismark, Bevan Cheatley, Denay Cottam, Phil Groves and Adrian Petitt were comfortably sitting in the main bunch. Also there was local hard man Pat Johnstone - notably in a bunch that temporarily went clear when the peloton split after the third ascent of Western Line. Behind them, Wanganui's Richard Stanton was having a hard day at the office but still battled away gamely.
Unsurprisingly, there was real damage done on the last two climbs and at the line, Brent Bismark was first of the local men to appear - his eighth overall placing seeing him beat several of the A-grade riders home and securing him an excellent second spot in the B-grade field. Wanganui's Bevan Cheatley, Denay Cottam and Phil Groves claimed third, fourth and fifth respectively in the B-grade - all creditable efforts on a very tough day of racing.
Matt Goode, who has been riding in Wanganui regularly was sixth, just in front of Petitt, who toughed it out right to the line for seventh. Tenth place went to Johnstone.
Wanganui rider Lewis Bunker fronted up in the two-lap (44km) U17 race in what was his biggest test to date. Unable to stay with some of his more experienced rivals - who clocked up some very sharp lap times - Bunker turned in a great effort for fourth place. He will continue to improve with experience and natural strengthening and will have gained plenty of confidence.