CYCLING

RaboPlus National Age Group Track Cycling Championships - Day 3

It was a night of repeat successes and broken records for New Zealand’s top age group track cyclists at the third night of the RaboPlus Age Group Track Cycling National Championships in Invercargill last night.

Auckland’s Stephanie McKenzie broke the New Zealand record in the under 19 women’s 500m time trial, with a superb 36.458s to take the title.

Despite racing in the oldest masters’ category, Bruce Jones had youth on his side when he stole the gold medal from Garry Humpherson in the M3 individual pursuit. Humpherson at 73, is nearly 20 years older that Jones and one of the oldest cyclists competing at this event.

Humpherson is a former world champion and current world record holder in the 70 years plus individual pursuit.

While Humpherson has decades of cycling experience behind him, this was Jones’ first track competition.

“It shows the quality of the rider of someone like Humpherson who, 18 years older is still in fine form. This morning he qualified first, six seconds faster than me!”

Jones’ success is not surprising as cycling is in his family – his nephew is former New Zealand representative and current BikeNZ track coach, Tim Carswell.

Manu Robson took his third 2010 New Zealand master’s title, edging out Tasman’s Conway Taylor by just over a second to take gold in the 3000m Individual Pursuit.

This is the first year that the junior, masters and paracyclists have had their exclusive national championship without the elite riders. The juniors provided some fierce racing for the vocal crowd with two Southland Sophies making their mark. Sophie McMurdo continued her winning streak to win the under 15 derby, with Sophie Williamson put in a fine performance to take out the under 17 points race

Like the flames on their Waikato Bay of Plenty skinsuit, the paracycling pair of Phillipa Gray and Sonia Waddell are on fire. They repeated their time trial record breaking performance and tonight rode a stunning 3:43.639 to break the national 3000m individual pursuit record. Gray has a visual impairment, with Waddell steering the tandem.

The championships finish today with the team sprint and team pursuit competitions.

Results: www.bikenz.org.nz