Women power rules Christies Road block

Matt Markham

It was women power to the fore in the Tinwald Cycling Club’s, Wylie Family, 45km handicap race around the Christies Road block on Sunday, with four of the top seven places being claimed by the ladies.

Tesh McIntosh proved the strongest in the charge to the finish line to claim a hard fought victory and lift the Alan Wylie Memorial Cup.

Nigel Chatterton was hot on her heels to take the second place spoils, continuing his run of good form.

Charlotte Cox was in the thick of the finish to claim the final podium position.

Natalie Breading will be happy with her afternoon’s work, producing a great ride to secure fourth place.

Mark Smitheram, Paul Williams, and Katherine Gorrie were a solid part of the winning breakaway, that rounded out the top seven. have a heap of players keen to keep going and then we could look at our options from there.

Christchurch visitors Adam Chapman and Michael Audeau could not be separated on the line and shared the fastest time honours, riding the course in 61.08. Kyle Gray secured third place.

The juniors and division 2 contested an 18km handicap event.

Charlotte Neal produced an awesome ride to hold out the chasing back markers and claim the major spoils.

Olivia Ewing stormed into second place and also picked up fastest time honours, covering the distance in 31.04.

Jack Gorrie had a top ride securing third place.

Louie Audeau and Ryan Gallagher rounded out the top five.

Nigel Leary got the better of his co-markers to take division 2 honours from Brian Ellis and Allan Johns.

Next week the club travels to the lowlands of Methven to contest a 45km handicap event.

“It might be that we keep a local competition going or could look at bringing a team together from within the competition to combine and join Celtic by playing up in the Christchurch com- petition.”

The four-week training block will be held through April with the matches scheduled for the following month.

Anyone interested in taking part or wanting to learn more can contact Kirsty at kirsty@midcanterburyrugby.co.nz