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Both Series continue to attract large fields and the competition is hotting up with only 3 races to go until XMAS.
For the first time this year the wind blew from the opposite direction with a headwind down the more exposed back straight. Yet again the race was characterised by constant attacks with Karl Murray jumping away for the first sprint and Tour of Southland Stage Winner Jonathan Atkinson taking the second after he and Kieran Turner went away for a number of laps. They were eventually caught with around 6 laps to go.
At this point the ever wily Murray Spencer jumped away and after spending two laps out on his own was joined by several others. With three laps to go the pace was on as riders began to bridge across to the leaders. There was no real driving force in the bunch as the two series contenders Gordon Bearman and Karl Murray were happy to mark each other.
This enabled a small group to form just in front of the main bunch which would go on to take the honours. Eric Mckenzie rode the perfect race bridging up to the break with 3 to go and showed the group why he was and still is one of the best road sprinters around. In second was up and coming rider Ryan Hoogenberg with Jonathan Atkinson 3rd ahead of Murray Spencer.
Another good field in B Grade which set a solid pace from the start. However, as the field has grown, the ability of riders to get away has diminished as there always seems to be a pair of legs willing to chase.
At the first sprint it was Richard Speer who took the honours although he was having difficulty keeping his bike in a straight line during the race. The pace gradually increased as the bunch built up to the very fast tailwind finish. Track Sprinter Liz Williams was looking to improve on her results to date and with a fast finish beckoning looked like she might show the guys a thing or two. In the end though it was Courteny Black who prevailed just piping the ever consistent Stuart Robinson for the win. In third was Kim Struthers.
A Grade 1 Eric McKenzie 2 Ryan Hoogenberg 3 Jonathan Atkinson 4 Murray Spencer 5 Matt Gilbert 6 Wayne Mason 7 Karl Murray 8 Gordon Bearman 9 Nigel Hunt 10 Rusty Smith B Grade 1 Courteny Black 2 Stuart Robinson 3 Kim Struthers 4 Richard Bates 5 Peter Harding 6 Stuart McIntosh 7 Scott Hotham 8 Richard Speer 9 Marina Duvnjak 10 Peter Brooking Courtesy of cyclingnz.com