VORB IS IN MAINTENANCE MODE You will not be able logon or make posts. We recommend you ride your bike in the meantime. [CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION]
Joined: Feb 13, 2003 Posts: 13,489 Location: Shaven Haven
Posted: Sat 25/Oct/08 8:20pm Post subject: Lion Foundation Club Cycling Champs - Day 3 Wrap
Sheridan fights off youth to win cycling honours
Nelson's Serena Sheridan continued her outstanding form to win the women's road race at the Lion Foundation club nationals in Wanganui today.
The Star and Garter rider had to hold off the challenges from two excellent young prospects Emma Crum and Lauren Ellis - both in their first year in the senior division - to claim the title in the 124km race around the testing Kai-Iwi Montgomery circuit in challenging conditions.
Sheridan, who assumed pre-race favouritism after the scratching of Auckland's Kaytee Boyd, did not chase the early break by Southland�s Dale Tye. She joined with Kapiti's Crum and Tinwald's Ellis to go clear on the final lap after Tye blew.
They were able to drop Ellis on the last climb and while Sheridan managed to control the sprint, Crum pushed her all the way, finishing 20m behind. It continues Sheridan's fine form, building on her international experience this year and her recent win in the national points series event at Napier.
However Crum, who was third in her senior debut at the Oceania Championships late last year in Invercargill, showed she is a talent for the future as is Ellis, a medallist at the world junior track championships last year.
Taranaki's Tom Findlay edged out Nelson's George Bennett to claim the honours in the Under-19 race in a superb finish.
Findlay attacked with 15km remaining but was caught by Bennett with the New Plymouth rider just outkicking his rival, both recording the same in a slick 3:12.49 for the 124km journey.
New Zealand junior international Jason Christie (Tinwald) had to hold off Southland's Matt Marshall for third in another sprint finish.
The Under-19 girls contest proved just as exciting with Te Awamutu�s Emma Petersen claiming the title for the second straight year.
A group of eight broke clear early in the 62km race, before two dropped off and then three riders - Petterson, fellow Te Awamutu rider Maddy Brunton and world under-19 track medallist Gemma Dudley (Levin) - went clear.
Peterson just held on in a superb sprint finish from Dudley and Brunton, all awarded the same time.
The championship finishes tomorrow with the under-23 and senior men's race with Hayden Roulston a late scratching although his fellow Beijing Olympic team pursuit medallists Sam Bewley and Jesse Sergent will still race.
Results, day 3, Lion Foundation Club Road Nationals, Wanganui:
Women:
Masters 1, 62km: Suzanne Charles (Palmerston North Marist) 1:52.16, 1.
Masters 2, 62km: Mireille Sitters (North Harbour) 1:56.32, 1; Margy Weston (New Plymouth) same time, 2; Sue Nicholls (Wanganui) 1:53.55, 3.
Under 19, 62km: Emma Petersen (Te Awamutu) 1:48.49, 1; Gemma Dudley (Levin) ST, 2; Maddy Brunton (Te Awamutu) ST, 3.
Senior, 154km: Serena Sheridan (Star & Garter Nelson) 3:46.40, 1; Emma Crum (Kapiti) 3:46.42, 2; Lauren Ellis (Tinwald) 3:48, 53, 3.
Men:
Masters 2, 93km: Kerry Harford (Ramblers Hawkes Bay) 2:28.07, 1; Mike Jones (Morrinsville Wheelers) ST, 2; Nigel Hunt (Counties Manukau) ST, 3.
Masters 3, 93km: Darryl Strachan (Ramblers) 2:27.31, 1; Brett Harte (Ramblers) 2:27.48, 2; David Robertson (PNP) 2:28.26, 3.
Under 19, 124km: Tom Findlay (New Plymouth) 3:12.49, 1; George Bennett (Star & Garter Nelson) ST, 2; Jason Christie (Tinwald) 3:13.21, 3.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, all the rest ℗ 2000-2008 by Tama Easton.
Extra design ℗ by Scotty Lane and Nathan Whitley. Photos and written work on this site are property of their owners, do not use them for commercial purposes.
Developed for Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 and Mozilla Firefox 3.0
