'Mature' Mouat races to podium

St Matthews Collegiate chaplain Lesley Mouat has become a force to be reckoned with in road cycling, just a year after first getting serious about the sport.
Two third placings in the Wellington inter-club four-race series saw her pick up 56 points, behind Andrew Hagan, who managed 78. Third equal on 52 were Richard Sutton and Miles Davies.
Earlier she had won her age-group at the popular Taupo 160km event and major placings at weekly events held by the Masterton Amateur Cycling Club have pretty much become the norm.
Mouat, who is by her own description of ''mature'' age, came to Masterton about five years ago but rode socially with MACC members until starting racing about 12 months ago.
She said she changed mainly because fellow riders felt she had the speed and stamina to give a decent account of herself. While they have been proved correct, she still rates the fun and enjoyment of simply being part of the cycling scene as being her main driving force.
''It's a great way of keeping fit and meeting good people. That's what makes it so rewarding,'' she said.
Mouat is now giving serious consideration to competing in her age-group at the national club championships in a few weeks and providing she can find the time to do the necessary training mileage, she could also front up in the arduous KSS 200km event in the Coromandel later in the year.