Titles hard fought

wo of the top male speed skaters at the River City Tour at the weekend were Ollie Jones (left) and Germany's Simon Albrecht. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Last weekend's St John's Club River City Tour was one of the closest ever fought.

The premier men's grade was won by defending champion Antony Nalder from Valley In-Line teammate Ollie Jones and Kapiti's Josh Whyte. German Junior World Champion silver medallist Simon Albrecht blitzed the 200m TT but couldn't get to grips with the local tracks in the other races.

The highlight was the Mitre10 666m time trial sponsored by Keown Honda with $200 for anyone who could break the one minute mark. Ollie Jones took the win and the money in a time of 59.92 sec with a breathtaking display of courage on the dangerous downhill right hand corner.

The premier women's grade was dominated by a fight to the wire between defending champion Wanganui's Jessica van Bentum and teammate Rebecca Smith with Van Bentum victorious by a scant three points.

Van Bentum won two stages to Smith's three, but van Bentum's greater consistency saw her home. A crash in the final stage at Jubilee Stadium just about derailed Van Bentum's tour hopes but she got back up and charged through to finish 4th and get the vital points.

South Canterbury's Judah Kelly won two sprint stages in spectacular fashion for third overall but couldn't stay with the leaders over the longer distances. Wanganui's Melissa White and Nicole Travers were impressive performers for 4th and 6th separated by South Canterbury's Annalise Le Roy.

The masters also saw close racing between Manawatu's Andy McDonell, Hamilton's Scott Moody and Wanganui's Krystine Davies with all three winning stages, but McDonell ultimately heading Moody and Davies.

Wanganui's Eden Smith completely dominated the men's B class winning every race at a canter except the last when Valley In-Line's Luke Williams caught him unawares. Joshua Hughes of Hamilton was second and Williams third overall.

The women's B grade was a battle of contrasting styles with Monique Cleeve's power and stamina up against Wanganui teammate Sophie Tang's smooth technique and deceptive speed. Ultimately Cleeve was too tough and took 5 wins to Tang's 3 for the title with South Canterbury's Boudine Brown and Sophie Lowen third and fourth.

The juvenile boys' and girls' grade saw a great contest between Hamilton's Campbell McRobbie and Wanganui's Renee Teers who fought out nearly every race. McRobbie eventually came out on top by 222 points to 210. Wanganui's Caitlin Fergusson edged rival Ocean Woolley for third.

The primary/novice grade was blitzed by Wanganui's NZ primary champion Chase Morpeth who won all the races in an impressive display of speed. Hamilton's Jackson Fellows chased hard all day for second with Manawatu's Hannah Pearson third. Wanganui's Elisa Bronniman missed the first four stages but showed her potential with a second and three thirds in the remaining races.