Hill climb puts riders to the test

Cycling

The Kourarau Hill is the renowned venue for the annual Cliffhanger motorcycle hill climb.

On Tuesday evening, the same setting saw 43 Masterton Cycling Club riders vie for club hill climb honours in the annual championship. Like last week's racing, the temperatures were sitting on 27C as they started at one-minute intervals.

The usual westerly was absent, instead the northeasterly was in the face of each competitor for the entire ride. Whereas the motorcycle riders were selecting higher gears, some cyclists kept searching for even lower gears to assist in counteracting the climb and the wind.

This hill climb is in effect an individual time trial and it was not until the results were collated that it became clear just how close the racing was. Some impressive times were recorded across the field by men and women competitors, although most were a minute or so slower than last year on account of the wind.

Fastest time on the night went to Ben Knight in 18min 12s, followed 4s later by Jack Sowry and 2s further back to Mark Langlands. Different classes were won by different riders, Knight taking out the vet men's, Sowry the under-23 title and Langlands the senior men's.

Kirsten Goodin won the senior women's title, followed by Julie Millar and Jenna Mangin. Vet women honours went to Lesley Mouat from Sheri Wales and Jo van Woerkom.

Next Tuesday, February 5, is the club individual time trial champs over 40km. Start is at Johnstone St at 6pm.

Actual finishing times were: Ben Knight 18.13, Jack Sowry 18.17, Mark Langlands 18.19, Eddy Kuipers 18.24, Craig Mangin 19.50, Dave Drummond 20.16, Jeff Saywell 20.21, Andrew Linton 20.46, Devan Simmonds 20.55, Pete James 21.12, Earle Whitcombe 21.17, Warwick Burr 21.27, Lesley Mouat 21.31, Derek Cox 21.34, Lawrence Field 21.48, Russell Pickering 22.20, Brett Tulloch 22.20, Terry Blackburn 22.21, Ian Fraser 22.21, Phil Sutherland 22.43, Darren Southen 22.23, Brian Sanders 23.30, John Allen 24.24, Mike Clinton-Baker 24.28, Simon Butler 24.33, Kirsten Goodin 24.37, John Chesmar 24.42, Sheri Wales 25.22, Julie Millar 25.32, Mike Parker 25.34, Jenna Mangin 25.35, Rod Sutherland 25.36, Diane Chesmar 25.41, Danny Clarkson 26.16, Andrew Curtis-Cody 26.20, Matt Gillan 26.24, Douglas Maclachlan 26.45, John Murray 27.08, Chris Bunny 27.11, Dave Howden 28.37, Anthony Morris 29.12, Brian Graham 29.23, Jo Van Woerkom 37.04