Thursday Night Race
Reports 2011-2012
Reports thanks to Talbot except where
stated
Thursday 16 Feb 2012
Tonight was a Bikewise Week official
event and was supported by 25 entries enjoying a light NE wind and fine
overcast.
The increased numbers allowed a
splitting of the 8 min group into a 9 and 7 to more evenly spread the
abilities.
The groups generally stayed away
until late in the second lap when the scratch guys gathered up the
slower bunches one by one to have Nicklas repeat his winning effort
from last week with Richard celebrating a return to Te Tumu with second
and Andy bringing up 3rd.
Regina was happy with her revised
handicap and the 11 min bunch pretty well stayed together to finish
just ahead of the 9 min. Some of the 5 and 7 groups combined late to
finish not far behind the leaders with the droppees straying in later.
Raewyne and Shane helped with the
starting and Mark brought the prizes supplied by Bikewise.
Starting Order
Off 15 mins
Michelle Barnsley
Loren Elphick
Off 11 mins
Mike Attrill
Brent Scown
Regina Ansorge
Natasha Collins
Robbie Stewart
Off 9 mins
Talbot Munro
Nigel Hines
Russell Jackman
Off 7 mins
Joshua Collins
Roger Keys
Jack Wilson
Peter Wilson
Off 5 mins
Daniel Hines
Ryan Pratt
Mark Ireland
Enrico Luca
Bernie Ryan
Greg and Rachel Kilgour (tandem)
Off 2 mins
Nicklas
Ansorge
(1st)
Richard
Bates
(2nd)
Andy
Collins
(3rd)
James Boyd
Tony Fairweather
Thursday 09 Feb 2012
18 riders enjoyed fine weather with a
stiff NNW wind making it’s presence felt on Kaituna Rd.
It’s difficult writing a
report when you get dropped on lap one, but at least you get to see all
the other riders as they scoot past.
Mike punctured on the first lap and
weakened the limit bunch which was swallowed up and spat out but
eventually reformed just before the finish, except for Natasha, who
stayed away. In the meantime Roger and Josh proved too strong for
the rest of the 8 min and first time starter Regina found it especially
tough.
The strong 5 min bunch, including vet
7 rider Graeme, caught and passed all the slower groups but were
themselves rundown on the home straight by the scratch guys who
relished the return of young Niklas who took the win from James and
Andy.
Starting Order
Off 11 mins
Robbie Stewart
Mike Attrill (DNF puncture)
Brent Scown
Natasha Collins
Clive Chester
Off 8 mins
Talbot Munro
Diedre Lack
Josh Collins
Roger Keys
Regina Ansorge
Off 5 mins
Enrico Luca
Stephen Lewis
Graeme Rodley
Kelly Shaw
Rainer Ansorge
Off 2 mins
Nicklas
Ansorge
(1st)
James
Boyd
(2nd)
Andy
Collins
(3rd)
Thursday 02 Feb 2012
17 riders on a fine night with a
gentle ENE breeze giving a tail wind down Kaituna Rd.
Some redistribution of handicaps
strengthened the middle order and evened up the groups with all the
bunches finishing in a one minute time span. Mike continues to be the
strongest limit rider and held on easily to the 8 min overtakers but
the step up for Russell may have been too tough.
Roger (3rd) and Katrina really helped
the rest of their group to a respectable time but Andy and James had a
hard time making ground on the strong 5 min bunch taking about two and
half minutes out of them.
We are all waiting for the Collins
youngsters to fire and Josh will be offered a start in the 8 min next
week. In the meantime they keep winning spot prizes!
Kelly and Stephen topped the podium
with Roger pipping Greg for third.
Starting Order
Off 11 mins
Mike Attrill
Raewyne Cathie
Natasha Collins
Robbie Stewart
Off 8 mins
Roger
Keys
(3rd)
Katrina Tulip
Diedre Lack
Talbot Munro
Randal Warner
Russell Jackman
Off 5 mins
Kelly
Shaw
(1st)
Stephen
Lewis
(2nd)
Greg
Kilgour
(4th)
Kees Swanink
Josh Collins
Off 2 mins
Andy Collins
James Boyd
Thursday 26 Jan 2012
16 riders on a fine night with a vicious 20 knot north westerly.
The strong 5 min group held all the
aces with depth and ability proving too strong for Andy on his own and
the struggling limit and 9 min groups.
Starting Order
Off 25 mins
Eric Taylor
Off 11 mins
Mike Attrill
Natasha Collins
Russell Jackman
Raewyne Cathie
Robbie Stewart
Off 9 mins
Talbot Munro
Diedre Lack
Randal Warner
Off 5 mins
Mark
Ireland
(1st)
Graeme
Rodley
(2nd)
Enrico
Luca
(3rd)
Joshua Collins
Roger Keys
Kees Swanink
Off 3 mins
Andy
Collins
19 January 2012
13 riders on a fine night with a 15
knot NW blowing down Kaituna Road.
Some new faces tonight and especially
nice to see Diedre back after her long recovery from injury. Diedre is
a former club member of long standing and was a regular at Thursday
night racing.
Also welcome to young Josh and
Natasha Collins whom are joint members of Morrinsville and Tauranga.
After some jockeying for favourable
handicaps the reduced numbers meant that some riders were a little out
of their depth but nobody complained. At least, not to me!
The 11 min bunch quickly reduced to
three riders and finally caught Eric at the end of the first lap just
as he was pulling out.
The scratch pair dragged Stephen off
the front of the 5 min and these three caught and passed the 11 min
trio within 500 m of the line with Stephen holding out James and Andy
to record his first win for 2012.
Starting Order
Off 25 mins
Eric Taylor
Off 11 mins
Mike
Attrill
Raewyne Cathie
Talbot Munro
Diedre Lack
Natasha Collins
Off 5 mins
Stephen
Lewis
(1st)
Roger Keys
Kees Swanink
Josh Collins
Paul Bowker
Off 2 mins
James
Boyd
(2nd)
Andy
Collins
(3rd)
22 December 2011
HO HO HO where did everyone go?
A fine night with a gentle NE breeze
and only 9 starters.
Handicapping is always difficult with
low numbers and the pairing of of Talbot and Kees proved too much for
Talbot who got dropped and pulled out after one lap.
A better pairing would have been Kees
and Bernie who struggled in the 2 min group.
Scratch showed their strength by
catching and passing the other riders and Richard broke away to record
an excellent time with Tom, up from 5 mins last start, second, and Andy
3rd.
Anyhow the Christmas tarts and low
alcohol beer and coke were enjoyed at the after race function, so there!
Starting Order
Off 11 mins
Mike
Attrill
(6th-52.14)
Clive
Chester
(7th 57.04)
Raewyne Cathie (one lap)
Off 8 mins
Kees
Swanink
(4th 46.58)
Talbot Munro (DNF)
Off 2 mins
Richard
Bates
(1st 38.22)
Tom
Carter
(2nd 39.00)
Andy
Collins
(3rd 39.06)
Bernie
Ryan
(5th.42.46)
15 December was rained off
08 December 2011
Once again a gentle NNE wind and
about 18 degrees produced benign conditions for the 11 starters.
The strong fields in the faster
groups put the acid on Talbot and Mike to stay away as long as
possible. Tom and Bernie broke up the 5 min group in their quest
for line honours. Fast finishing Richard failed by only 15
seconds to bridge the handicap and join them on the line but secured
third for his efforts.
Ryan Pratt suffered gear failure so
acted as starter and timekeeper.
Starting Order:-
Off 10 mins
Talbot Munro
Mike Attrill
Off 5 mins
Tom
Carter
(1st)
Bernie
Ryan
(2nd)
Greg Kilgour
Mark Ireland
Darryn Finucane
Off 2 mins
Richard
Bates
(3rd)
Tony Fairweather
Enrico Luca
Andy Collins
01 December 2011
The 12 knot NE did not deliver the
armchair ride we had hoped for.
The headwind down Maketu Rd had more
effect than the side wind down Kaituna Rd and the tail wind along Te
Tumu.
Andy really struggled on his own and
only just caught the 8 min before the line but had not made much
impression on the 5 min who cleared out to record a win for Mark with
Peter second and Andy a distant third. Talbot and John tried to draft
off Mark and Peter but one good attack broke the trail. More weetbix!
Nice to see Life Member Eric Taylor
out for a social lap and chat before the main event.
Starting Order:-
Off 11 mins
Mike Attrill
Robbie Stewart
Off 8 mins
Talbot
Munro
(4th=)
John
Spratt
(4th=)
Off 5 mins
Mark
Ireland
(1st)
Peter
Puchner
(2nd)
Darryn Finucane
Off 2 mins
Andy
Collins
(3rd)
24 November 2011
The brisk 25 knot WSW wind and the
upcoming Round Taupo on Saturday kept the numbers to the lowest this
season.
Prerace discussion about the wind and
the low numbers could have ended in abandonment but we decided the
conditions were character building and lets get on with it.
The limit bunch decided that they had
a good chance of staying away due to the low numbers in the chasing
groups. Indeed they did stay out of sight until three quarters of the
race had elapsed with Raewyne doing her fair share for one lap.
Talbot and John were slowly gaining
but were still over a minute behind going into Kaituna Rd for the
last time.
And then along came Andy who had
busted a gut catching up. As he passed us he eased up and let us
draft off him down Kaituna Rd. With John and I hanging on by a
thread we finally caught and passed Mike and Robbie whom we would not
have caught without Andy’s help. On reflection, Andy
saved us about three minutes based on our first lap time.
As Mark often says these races sure
sharpen you up and keep you focused.
Starting Order:-
Off 11 mins
Mike
Attrill
(4th=)
Robbie
Stewart
(4th=)
Raewyne Cathie
Off 8 mins
Talbot
Munro
(2nd=)
John
Spratt
(2nd=)
Off 2 mins
Andy
Collins
(1st)
17 November 2011
The brisk 20 knot WSW wind may have deterred a few riders as the
numbers were down to 14 starters.
As usual the wind had the most effect
on the slower riders and the battle into the headwind along Kaituna Rd
broke up the 11 min group who were caught by the 8 min just after the
turn into Te Tumu Rd on the first lap. Yvonne, Wayne and Clive
jumped on the back and Clive managed to stay on until unlapping himself
just before the line.
Bernie did a great job of dragging
the 8 min bunch along until overtaken by the combined 5 and scratch
bunches about three kms out from the line. He jumped into that group
but the sprint went to the scratch riders with Clinton leading in Andy
and James.
Mike was spraying kiwifruit so his
daughter Michelle delivered the start line equipment. Raewyne was the
starter.
Starting Order:-
Off 11 mins
Yvonne
Manson (off to the South
Island until March)
Colin Loker
Clive Chester
Wayne Olver
Off 8 mins
Talbot Munro
John Spratt
Russell
Jackman (up from 11 mins)
Bernie
Ryan
(resuming 5 min rider)
Off 5 mins
Kelly Shaw
Peter Puchner
Mark Ireland
Off 2 mins
Clinton
Stanshall
(1st)
Andy
Collins
(2nd)
James
Boyd
(3rd)
10 November 2011
Fine and windy with a stiff SSE
blowing directly on the nose for the finishing leg.
17 riders tonight in spite of the
conditions and a dearth of starters for the 8 min group saw Talbot and
Peter McLeod drop back to the 12 min start.
Some erratic riding caused a break in
this group which resulted in Peter, Talbot and Mike riding away to
record placings in that order.
The large 5 min group and the
catching scratch riders came together to hunt down the leaders but
failed by the length of the finishing straight to bridge across. The
sprint for 4th was a hard fought tussle with about 10 riders all in
with a chance with Tony taking it out by half a wheel.
Congratulations and best wishes to
Mike and Pam on the occasion of their marriage.
Starting Order:-
Off 12 mins
Peter
McLeod
(1st)
Talbot
Munro
(2nd)
Mike
Attrill
(3rd)
Robbie Stewart
Loren Elphick
Brent Scown
Russell Jackman
Off 5 mins
Freddie Glen Vile
Stephen Lewis
Keith Thompson
Paul Jones
Mark Ireland
Greg Kilgour
Peter Puchner
Off 2 mins
Tony Fairweather
James Boyd
Andy Collins
03 November 2011
Report by Mark Ireland
Te Tumu Road Thursday night Race – 3rd November
Weather
Fine, sunny
Temp – 18 deg
Wind – WSW 20km/h, peak gust WSW 29km/h
A bit down in numbers tonight, with a number of regulars away or still
recovering from K2. However 16 riders in total, including Life Member
Eric Taylor, who did two laps before doing the race, all enjoying
pretty good conditions. Despite predictions of a head wind the whole
way round, there was a reasonable tail wind on Maketu Rd and while
there was a direct head wind on Kaituna Rd, the wind was steady, so you
could get into a good rhythm.
With the boss away, we made some changes to the handicaps, setting the
11 min group off at 12 minutes, as they keep getting caught on Maketu
Rd. This worked out well, with the 5 min boys catching them at the
bridge on Te Tumu Road. Brent Scown, wearing cycling shoes this week,
hopped on the back. Paul Jones found himself stuck on the front in the
closing kilometres and with less than 300m before the line, it was
Keith Thompson who initially launched the sprint, but was outgunned by
Mark, Kelly and Stephen, who took out the podium places.
The 2 minute bunch rolled in a short time later
Brent donated a family size block of chocolate as the major spot prize
(won by Terry Hart) and we finally got a new hook for the clock, so it
can be more easily seen from the start line.
Starting Order
20 mins – Eric Taylor
11 mins – Mike Attrill
Brent Scown
Robbie Stewart
Russell Jackman
Colin Locker
8 Min – Nobody!
5 Min – Paul Jones
- Keith Thompson
Stephen Lewis
Mark
Ireland
Paul
Bowker
Kelly Shaw
2 Min – Clinton Stanshill
Terry Hart
Enrico Luca
Andy Collins
27 October 2011
A gentle 8 knot tailwind down Kaituna
Rd played it’s part for the 19 (plus stoker) riders tonight.
The easterly wind was a nice change
from the usual westerlies but also helped break up the groups with the
stronger riders better able to gain the advantage.
Mike, Robbie and Russell tore off the
front of their bunch and Enrico, Mark, Kelly and Stephen ripped the 5
min group apart. The 8 min bunch was dragged along by Graeme and only
broke up when caught by the 5’s. Tonight the scratch guys could
not get a part of the action even with the help of the tandem. At the
line Mark lost out in the sprint with Enrico, Stephen and Kelly
finishing in that order.
Katrina stepped up to the 5 min but
found the going too tough and Graeme dropped back to the 8’s to
rest up for the K2 this weekend but still did most of the work.
Special mention goes to Brent who
rode one lap in bare feet (having left his shoes at home) and hung on
to his bunch!
Starting Order:-
Off 11 mins
Mike Attrill
Clive Chester
Brent Scown
Raewyne Cathie
Colin Loker
Russell Jackman
Robbie Stewart
Off 8 mins
Graeme Rodley
Randal Warner
Talbot Munro
Off 5 mins
Enrico
Luca
(1st)
Stephen
Lewis
(2nd)
Kelly
Shaw
(3rd)
Mark Ireland
Peter Puchner
Katrina Tulip
Off 2 mins
Greg Kilgour and Ryan Pratt
(tandem)
Andy Collins
James Boyd
20 October
20 riders (plus stoker on tandem) enjoyed a gentle SSW of about 5 knots.
The 11 min riders got their
act together and stayed clear until the main straight down Kaituna Rd
where they were caught, but not passed, by the combined 8, 5 and 4 min
groups. The peloton worked together to hold out the scratch bunch until
just before the line.
Mark Ireland took out the bunch
sprint from Tony and Stephen. Incidentally Mark is Club Captain and
Tony and Stephen are both Past Presidents. Being on the committee
obviously improves your riding!!
Also riding was our star photographer
who is contracted to the BBC to provide coverage of the Rena disaster
effect on Tauranga beaches. Read about Daniel Hines accomplishments on
the Sunlive web site.
Starting Order:-
Off 11 mins
Robbie Stewart
Mike Attrill
Raewyne Cathie
Colin Loker (DNF-puncture)
Yvonne Manson
Brent Scown
Off 8 mins
Katrina Tulip
Talbot Munro
Off 5 mins
Mark
Ireland
(1st)
Stephen
Lewis
(3nd)
Freddie Glenvile
Nigel Hines
Daniel Hines
Kelly Shaw
Keith Thompson
Off 4 mins
Greg and Rachel Kilgour (tandem)
Ryan Pratt
Off 2 mins
Tony
Fairweather
(2nd)
Andy Collins
James Boyd (DNF- broken spoke)
13 October
A 15 knot WSW wind hampered the 15
riders but probably helped blow the oil from the grounded Rena offshore.
Only the scratch group held together
for the entire race as all the other bunches broke up sooner or later
due to the wind.
Towards the end of the first lap the
11 min bunch was caught and pulled apart by the remnants of the 8 min
and these groups were subsequently swallowed up and spat out by Tony
Tinworth and Andy on their way to eventual victory. They had already
caught and disturbed the 5 min starters who were struggling to maintain
their grouping with Ryan and Mark tagging on but eventually being
dropped.
Paul Bowker continues to impress with
his strength into the wind and ability to hang on to the faster riders
to claim 3rd tonight.
Starting Order:-
Off 11 mins
Mike Attrill
Yvonne Manson
Robbie Stewart
Raewyne Cathie
Colin Loker
Off 8 mins
Paul
Bowker
(3rd)
Talbot Munro
John Spratt
Randall Warner
Off 5 mins
Mark Ireland
Ryan Pratt
Nigel Hines
Darryn Finucane
Off 3 mins
Tony Tinworth (Taupo
club) (1st)
Andy
Collins
(2nd)
29 Sept 2011
A great start to
the season with light winds and 18 starters.
Early season
jitters resulted in some jostling for handicaps with some riders
returning from injury and illness.
The 10 min group
became something of a lottery with the group splitting early in the
first lap into two factions that indicate a later start time for the
four riders who broke away and stayed clear to the finish.
The rest of the
bunches eventually came together to mount a chase and were only 20 secs
adrift at the line.
Special mention
this week goes to Darryn Finucane who has leapt up the rankings to foot
it with the 5 min starters after being a regular 11 min rider over the
last seasons.
Starting Order:-
Off 15 mins
Loren Elphick
Off 10 mins
Randal
Warner
(1st)
Talbot
Munro
(2nd)
John
Spratt
(3rd)
Brent
Scown
(4th)
Mike Attrill
Yvonne Manson
Robbie Stewart
Off 5 mins
Graham Rodley
Mark Ireland
Peter Puchner
Daniel Hines
Nigel Hines
Paul Bowker
Darryn Finucane
Off 2 mins
Andy Collins
James Boyd
Off 1 min
Lucas
Finucane
6
October 2011
18
riders enjoyed a light north westerly and fine weather.
The handicapping is settling down already with the limit through to 5
min bunches all coming together late in the second lap and only
fragmenting again on the run down Te Tumu Rd to the finish. Sadly the
scratch riders were off the pace tonight and could not bridge across.
The sprint produced a win for Mark with Paul Jones close for second and
the tandem piloted by Greg and Rachel holding out Darryn for third.
Newcomers Carol and Noel stayed clear until the last turn into the home
stretch but some other first timers were dropped from their respective
groups early on and will need to be given a more generous start time
next showing.
We had two high profile spectators tonight with regular competitor Andy
Collins deciding to sit this one out and Life Member Eric Taylor
turning up for the warm up lap and then relaxing and enjoying the
racing from the sideline.
Mike Attrill won yet another spot prize. The man is a legend!
Starting Order:-
Off15 mins
Carol Marshment
Noel Marshment
Off 11 mins
Robbie Stewart
Russell Jackman
Mike Attrill
Raewyne Cathie
Brent Scown
Off 8 mins
Clive Chester
Colin Loker
Paul Bowker
Talbot Munro
Off 5 mins
Mark
Ireland
(1st)
Paul
Jones
(2nd)
Greg and Rachel Kilgour (3rd)
Darryn
Finucane
(4th)
Off 3 mins
Tony Fairweather
James Boyd
