New Zealand Criterium Championships - NE

Takapuna, New Zealand, December 17, 2005

Results

Godfrey and Duvnjak crowned NZ Crit Champions

By Peter Ulmer

The 2005 Lion Foundation NZ Criterium Champs were run under clear skies and a hot atmosphere on Saturday night. A large crowd lined Hurstmere Rd to witness the crowning of four National Champions. Sarah Gilkison (Devonport) and Myron Simpson (Pakuranga) raced to hard-fought victories in the U17 grades, with Simpson only just pipping Bradley Aldridge (Takapuna) in a photo-finish.

Nigel Hunt (Auckland) took it to the younger riders in the Open B / Masters grade to charge home by several bike lengths over Ben Simpson (Pakuranga) and Nick Teebone (North Shore).

The night's main events kicked off with a large and talented Elite Women's field with Jo Kiesanowski (Christchurch), Sarah Ulmer (Cambridge) and Rushlee Buchanan (Te Awamutu) favourites for victory. Kiesanowski used her fast kick out of the Anzac St roundabout to take the first sprint prize of the race, but after that, a decisive break formed. An attacking duo of Marina Duvnjak (Massey) and Carissa Wilkes (Rotorua) escaped the field with Ulmer crossing the gap to make it three. The small group worked well to create a significant gap until misfortune for Ulmer in the form of a puncture effectively dashed the hopes of a third national title. In the gallop for line honours, it was an ecstatic Duvnjak who prevailed in what she described as the peak of her cycling career. A fast finishing Kiesanowski brought the main field home in the sprint for third place.

The Elite Men's field began under twilight conditions for the 45 minute contest to decide who would wear the jersey of National Champion during the 2006 season. The pace once the flag dropped from the lead motorcycle was furious, with the bunch stretched into single-file for most of the race. Attack after attack forced the speed unbearable high for those caught at the back of the race with an astonishing average race speed of 51kmh. The main protagonists at the front of the bunch were National Road Race champion Gordon McCauley (Auckland), NZ Olympian Tim Gudsell (Te Awamutu) and National junior representative Clinton Avery (Rotorua). As the race neared its conclusion and dusk fell the chances were increasing for the sprinters in the group. Through the final corner led Christchurch's Olympian Hayden Godfrey who timed his effort to perfection, galloping to victory with a bike length to spare over Gudsell and McCauley.

The evening was declared a tremendous success by race organiser Peter Ulmer who praised the North Shore council and public in their support for this family-orientated carnival-style event.

Results

Elite Men 
 
1 Hayden Godfrey
2 Tim Gudsell
3 Gordon McCauley
4 Richard Bowker
5 Sam Bewley
6 Adam Coker
7 Paul Bishop
8 Chris Macic
9 Mike Northey
 
Elite Women 
 
1 Marina Duvnjak
2 Carissa Wilkes
3 Jo Kiesanowski
4 Lauren Koedyk
5 Rosy McCall
6 Amy Mosen
7 Jo Ryder
8 Toni Bradshaw
9 Rosara Joseph
10 Rushlee Buchanan
 
Open B / Masters 
 
1 Nigel Hunt
2 Ben Simpson
3 Nick Teebone
4 Alex Cull
5 Brendon James
6 Chad Gordon
7 Adam Smith
8 Chris Faithfull
9 Todd Hewlett

U17 Girls  
 
1 Sarah Gilkison
2 Ellen Fowler
3 Sarah Williams
4 Emily Justice
5 Nicola Macic
6 Aleisha McKinley
7 Anna Thompson
 
U17 Boys  
 
1 Myron Simpson
2 Bradley Aldridge
3 Simon Caulfield
4 Thomas Libby
5 Oliver Harding-Sheath
6 Taylor Gunman
7 Sheldon Gorter
8 Chris Scott
9 Zane Winiata
10 Andrew McNab