Sharrock Cup race takes on special significance

The late Gordon Sharrock (left) steadies Kiwi cyclist Tony Graham at the 1988 Seoul Olympics while coach Ron Cheatley issues race instructions. PHOTO/FILE

The Wanganui Cycling Club's regularly scheduled Sharrock Family Cup race took on special significance for the riders on their trip to Waverley and back on Saturday.

The cup race was being held in the week of the death of club and national cycling stalwart Gordon Sharrock, and so the competitors assembled for a minute's silence at the line before the 1.30pm starter's gun.

Held in wet and windy conditions on State Highway 3, a strong scratch group of the top riders were giving away a 30 minute start to the front group, with several other bunches of cyclists setting off in between.

"At the turn in Waverley, Brian Hayward and Noel Turner had a good lead and we're working well together with Shaun Tucker also riding strongly after breaking away from his group," said spokesman Ron Cheatley.

"The field started to come together in the Waitotara hill and it was here where two of the scratch riders - Gary Anderson and Bevan Cheatley - applied the pressure and broke clear in a bid to chase down the two leaders."

One of the other contenders Brent Bismark, had a brief mechanical issue, but soon recovered and joined with Jason Sturzaker to make a hard chase and try to pull Anderson and Bevan Cheatley back in, which they could not do.

Hayward and Turner were still holding Anderson and Cheatley at bay, but they were caught at the top of the final climb up Goat Valley.

"In the final sprint to the line it was Bevan Cheatley who got the better of Anderson for a well deserved win with Turner, who was visiting from Europe, holding on for third," said Ron Cheatley.

"It was a good effort by all the riders who finished in such tough conditions."

In the other race to Maxwell and back for the Paddy O'Brien Cup, it was youngster Damian Hussey who took the win.