John Black dug in to win the A-grade race on Saturday afternoon. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED
A defiant win by veteran John Black in the A-grade race was the feature of a tough day's racing for the Wanganui Cycling Club on Saturday.
The wild weather prevailing on Saturday morning had abated slightly by 1pm race time but competitors still had to battle rain and strong winds as they raced from the Talbot St start out to the Aberfeldy School and back a distance of just over 50km.
The conditions saw a reduced field of 14 A-grade starters, handicapped into three groups.
Black was part of the limit group, sent away first, and enjoying the tailwind he and his four co-markers Marcia Goode, Ross McNeil, Martin Hogan and Dan Richards worked together evenly until the foot of the Aberfeldy climb.
At that point, the lightweight pair of Black and Goode slipped away from their rivals, although Black had in turn cleared out on Goode by the time they reached the top and at the turnaround was ahead by about 20 seconds.
Chasing hard were the break group, weakened slightly by the loss of Paul Forrest with a puncture.
Brian Scrimshaw set much of the pace on the first ascent, but was closely attended by Allan Luff, Rob Chamberlain, and Darcy Forrester.
On the return climb Forrester was dropped slightly and his three co-markers started picking up the stragglers from the front group before the descent began. Shortly afterwards scratch men Bevan Cheatley and Pat Johnston having both dispatched Adrian Pettit on the climb and lost Matt Goode (also a puncture) burst on to the scene.
Forrester, managing to tag on, was there too and the newly formed group set out to reel in the few riders remaining ahead.
With Cheatley and Johnstone driving the pace into the headwind and teeming rain, along with strong contributions from Scrimshaw, Chamberlain and a rejuvenated Forrester, they picked off the remaining riders one-by-one then eventually mowed down Ross McNeil at the 38km mark.
That left only Black in front of them. Impressively, McNeil settled in and was soon also contributing well to the pace-making.
Up front, Black could have been forgiven for weakening after a long solo effort, but showing great tenacity he simply kept going.
By Sparrow cliff with under 3km to go Cheatley and company spotted the leader, but despite a re-doubling of their efforts they were unable to run him down.
At the line, Black remained clear by an ever-diminishing 15 seconds, his victory a popular one and testament to the efficiency of his dedicated training regime.
Cheatley won the sprint for second with authority and Forrester winding up late just cut Scrimshaw out of third place.
Luff after sprinting early was fifth, just in front of Chamberlain who turned in a great effort for a man with limited recent racing under his belt.
Cheatley's effort saw him take time honours 1:23.38 for the day.
A keen field of four B-graders raced the 42km to the top of the Aberfeldy and back and it was Carl Rusden always a threat in this grade who burnt off his rivals to take the win.
Rusden put in a strong performance on the return leg, into the worst of the weather, to go clear for nine-second victory.
Tim Chambers, another who hasn't raced much lately, battled on well for second with Craig Bright not far away in third.
Murray McDonald boxed on after a gap to finish fourth.
Steve Brandon put in a determined effort to break through for a good win in the 36km C-grade race to the foot of the Aberfeldy and return. With the group still intact, Brandon attacked on the small rise out of Upokongaro on the homeward leg and got a small gap which he defended fiercely to the finish.
Regular winner Dean Blackwell tried desperately to peg back Brandon, but was unable to do so and had to be content with second place, some six seconds in arrears.
Debbie Cain battled away strongly to finish third after a gap.
Results
A Grade: 1. John Black; 2. Bevan Cheatley (fastest time 1:23.38); 3. Darcy Forrester.
B Grade: 1. Carl Rusden (fastest time 1:34.10); 2. Tim Chambers; 3. Craig Bright.
C Grade: 1. Steve Brandon (fastest time 1:23.48); 2. Dean Blackwell; 3. Debbie Cain.Cycling