Main Bunch Finish

Thanks to Glenn Rewi for the photo

Points standings after 4 rounds.

1. PAUL ODLIN ~ LAURIE DAWE CYCLES 69 points
2. Brian Fowler ~ Kelford/Reiker 56 points
3. Joe Chapman ~ Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 54 points
4. MIKE KINGAN ~ LAURIE DAWE CYCLES 40 points
5. Daniel Barry ~ Benchmark Homes 38 points
6. James Williamson ~ Subway 38 points
7. Edward Barrett ~ Benchmark Homes 35 points
8. Glenn Rewi ~ Benchmark Homes 28 points
9. Scott Wilder ~ Benchmark Homes 28 points
10. Ross Machejefski ~ Individual 26 points
11. NEIL SUTHERLAND ~ LAURIE DAWE CYCLES 26 points
12. Hayden Roulston ~ Kelford/Reiker 25 points
13. Dan Waluszewski ~ Subway 25 points
14. Aaron Tuckerman ~ Individual 20 points
15. Ross Stewart ~ Benchmark Homes 19 points
16. Reon Park ~ Kelford/Reiker 16 points
17. Steve Elden ~ Benchmark Homes 16 points
18. Andrew Widdup ~ Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 16 points
19. Darrell Kircher ~ Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 13 points
20. Craig Atwill ~ Team Crown Hotel 12 points
21. Hayden Godfrey ~ Subway 10 points
22. Stuart Lowe ~ Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 8 points
23. Ashley Whitehead ~ Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 6 points
24. Shane Archbold ~ Kelford/Reiker 6 points
25. SAM HORGAN ~ LAURIE DAWE CYCLES 6 points
26. Nathan Hood ~ Benchmark Homes 5 points
27. Tony Fowler ~ Individual 4 points
28. James Gibson ~ Individual 4 points
29. Daniel Dean ~ Individual 3 points
30. Malcom Pearce ~ Individual 3 points
31. Marc Prutton ~ Individual 3 points
32. Nick Emery ~ Individual 2 points
33. Steven Hands ~ Individual 2 points
34. Craig Scott ~ Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 1 point
35. Barry Tinkler ~ Individual 1 point

Women's:

1. ANNALIISA FARRELL ~ LAURIE DAWE CYCLES 26 points
2. TRACY CLARK ~ LAURIE DAWE CYCLES 25 points
3. Katri Laike ~ Kelford/Reiker 17 points
4. Donna Sibley ~ Benchmark Homes 10 points
5. Josie Giddens ~ Kelford/Reiker 10 points
6. Nimesha Smith ~ Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 5 points
7. Gina Waibl ~ Individual 5 points
8. Michele Kiesanowski ~ Individual 5 points
9. Laura Thompson ~ Benchmark Homes 3 points
10. Justine Forde ~ Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 2 points

Teams:

1. Benchmark Homes Cycling Team 69 points
2. LAURIE DAWE CYCLES CYCLING TEAM 44 points
3. Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R & R Sports 33 points
4. Kelford/Reiker Cycling Team 29 points
5. Subway Cycling Team 23 points
6. Team Crown Hotel 7 points
7. Cycleworkz 2 points

Round 4 results (now official).

Annaliisa, Sam, Fitzy and Tracy rolling out of Hanmer.

Sunday 6th May, round 4 of the Benchmark Homes 8 race series from Hanmer to Kaikoura, better weather this year than last and it stayed that way all day.

Hayden Roulston broke away early with Ed Barrett and when I say early I mean early, like in the first few k's, we thought far too early we'll let them go, unfortunately we made a rather large error in underestimating both of their strengths as they managed to stay away together for the best part of the race.

Numerous attempts were made to bridge the gap but all proved fruitless, until after halfway, when Daniel Barry went away closely followed by Paul Odlin and Ross Machejefski. Once these three got together and started working they soon started pulling in the leaders, soon after Barrett started to feel the strain of going so early and soon drifted back to the chasers and then back to the main bunch, all the while the three chasers kept working away slowly but surely pulling back Roulston.

At one stage Roulstons lead was out to over 5 minutes, by the end it had been whittled back to a mere 24 seconds. Nonetheless an outstanding ride by Roulston to win the race showing once again his true class.

Paul came home strongly in 2nd place followed closely by Daniel Barry and then Ross Machejefski who was starting to fade a little.

As it turned out the race worked out alright for us as Paul extended his lead over the rest of the field and Mike Kingan sprinted home exceptionally well, after doing a fair amount of work to protect Paul, to get himself a few more points. Sam Horgan also rode outstandingly to finish in the top 10 & 2nd U23 rider.

The woman's competition is starting to heat up. Tracy found the going a bit tough but in typical Tracy style she still finished and collected some more points as well, Annaliisa however stayed in contact with the other woman throughout the race but just didn't quite have the legs at the finish, being out sprinted by Katri Laike.
Annaliisa crossing the line in Kaikoura.

Dave crossing the line in Kaikoura.

There was only a whisker between us and Benchmark for the Teams prize, one place to be precise and they had to check it on the video to make sure.

I have to say well done everyone on the team, we are going into the winter break in a very strong position, we hold the overall lead, the woman's lead (x2), 2nd in the teams standings and Mike Kingan in the top five also. This has been achieved by outstanding teamwork and selfless dedication to the team, I thank you all.



Results:

1st Hayden Roulston (Kelford/Reiker)
2nd Paul Odlin (Laurie Dawe Cycles)
3rd Daniel Barry (Benchmark Homes)
4th Ross Machejefski (Individual/Hokitika)
5th Brian Folwer (Kelford/Reiker)
6th Joe Chapman (Harty's-Lowe & Assoc.)
7th Glenn Rewi (Benchmark Homes)
8th Mike Kingan (Laurie Dawe Cycles)
9th Scott Wilder (Benchmark Homes)
10th Sam Horgan (Laurie Dawe Cycles)

1st Woman:

Katri Laike
1st Team:

Benchmark Homes

Paul crossing the line in Kaikoura.

Photos courtesy of Annabel Fitzsimons.

Standings after Round 3

The overall standings after three rounds of the Benchmark Homes race series is as follows:

1st Paul Odlin (Laurie Dawe Cycles) 47 points
2nd Joe Chapman (Harty's-Lowe & Assoc.) 40 points
3rd Brian Fowler (Kelford-Reiker) 40 points (over 40 leader)
4th James Williamson (Subway) 38 points (U23 leader)
5th Edward Barrett (Benchmark Homes) 30 points (2nd U23)
6th Michael Kingan (Laurie Dawe Cycles) 30 points
7th Neil Sutherland (Laurie Dawe Cycles) 26 points (2nd over 40)
8th Dan Waluszewski (Subway) 25 points (3rd U23)
9th Scott Wilder (Benchmark Homes) 20 points
10th Aaron Tuckerman (Blenheim) 20 points (4th U23)

Womans Standings:
1st Tracy Clark (Laurie Dawe Cycles) 20 points
2nd Annaliisa Farrell (Laurie Dawe Cycles) 19 points
3rd Josie Giddens (Kelford-Reiker) 10 points
4th Donna Sibley (Benchmark Homes) 8 points
5th Katrie Lake (Kelford-Reiker) 7 points

Interesting point to note, Paul Odlin, Mike Kingan, Scott Wilder, Annaliisa Farrell and Josie Giddens are the only riders to have gained points in all three rounds so far.

Teams Standings:
1st Benchmark Homes 51 points
2nd Harty's/Lowe & Assoc./R&R Sports 30 points
3rd Laurie Dawe Cycles 28 points
4th Subway 23 points
5th Kelford/Reiker 16 points
6th Crown Hotel Timaru 5 points
7th Cycleworkz 2 points