Cycling: Ramblers walk it at national champs

DOUBLE CHAMP: Marg Porter all smiles after completing a time-trial road race double at the national club cycling championship. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

NAME ANYONE who is worth anything when it comes to coaching cycling in Hawke's Bay.

Olympian Rob Oliver. Tick. Ivar Hopman, the mentor for the Bay's multiple world champion Regan Gough. Tick. Former professional Jeremy Vennell. Tick.

Yes, Bay cyclist Marg Porter, 46, has milked info and tips out of all of these blokes during her 20 years with the Ramblers club. And she was quick to praise all four after completing a women's masters 3 time-trial road race double with a 14-second victory in the Puketapu-based road race during yesterday's second of four days in the Hawke's Bay-hosted national club championships.

"They've all been great. It's a team effort. I've got to thank my husband Henry and daughter Mia for their on-going support and my personal trainer Sheryl Summers from 1 to 1 Fitness," Porter said.

She stopped the clock at 1hr38m01s after her 52km race. Central Otago's Tammy Harvey was second and Marsden's Fiona Southorn third, two seconds behind Harvey.

"I really wanted the double this year after finishing third in the time trial last year by 15 seconds before winning the road race in Cambridge," Porter said.

"To win the time-trial by more than two minutes was an awesome turn around," she said, referring to Thursday's victory in the time-trial when she completed 25km in 39m44s.

Another key to her success was racing in the B grade division of the Ramblers' weekly club rides.

"There are some big hitters in that division and they set me up well for the big races," Porter, a duty nurse manager at Hawke's Bay Hospital, said.

It is not unusual for her to complete 350km of training during eight to 13 hours each week.

"Hopefully we can retain the shield for the top club again. Either way there is going to be a big party at Ivar's place on Sunday night," she said. Clubmate Carol Bone also completed a time-trial road race double with her masters 7 grade victory, also over 52km yesterday.

Like her time-trial win, it was unopposed and Bone stopped the clock at 1hr51m02s.

Other Ramblers to make it to the podium yesterday included Carol McCallum, who was third in her masters 4 52km race in 1hr32m40s, and Rosemary Weskett, who was third in her masters 6 52km race, 7m24s behind the winner Sharon Prutton of Canterbury, who stopped the clock at 1hr35m36s.

The Bay's elite men's time trial winner, Olympian Westley Gough, will have the opportunity to complete doubles this weekend.

Taupo rider Kiaan Watts completed the under-15 boys' double yesterday.