Trek team finish strong

The Velo Ronny's Trek Team. From left, Shaun Hogan, Andrew Osmond, Pat Johnstone, Adrian Pettit, Gary Anderson, Steve Cowan, Darcy Forrester, Stephen Snell, Ron Cheatley and Paul Forrest.

It has been a very eventful Trust House North Island Cycling Series for the Velo Ronny's Trek team and the Whanganui outfit capped it off in style with Gary Anderson winning the last race and the title of the Masters 2 grade on Sunday.

Anderson sprinted home ahead of more than 60 riders to claim Race 5 of the series in Masterton.

The Velo Ronny team, managed by Ron Cheatley, climbed up to finish overall second place in the team's section, behind winners Team PNP, following good backup performances to Anderson by Steve Cowan and Andrew Osmond.

In the Elite riders grade, Whanganui's Glenn Haden completed a good week of competition by coming fourth in Race 5 and also finishing fourth overall in his series.

Haden was backing up after placing 12th in the Elite race at the 2016 Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge the previous weekend.

No doubt just happy to be there watching was the Velo Ronny's team mate Paul Forrest.

Forrest collapsed in a cardiac arrest during the October 16 race and had his life saved by Masterton rider Phil Sutherland, along with Anderson, who gave him CPR until emergency services and several Wellington doctors who had entered the race arrived at the scene.

Forrest's heart stopped three times on the helicopter flight to Wellington, where he was operated on, before being transferred back to Whanganui Hospital.

He was able to join his team mates for the victory photo after the event on Sunday.