Local riders show strength in RaboPlus Age Group Cycling

Southland’s cycling strength continued to show its teeth on home turf on the second day of the RaboPlus Age Group Track National Championships in Invercargill last night.

Local rider Sophie McMurdo excited the home crowd when she dominated the under 15 girls 5km point race at the ILT Velodrome.

She won 17 of the maximum 20 points available for any one rider, her nearest rivals on nine points each.

McMurdo also took gold in the 500m Time Trial and attributes her ‘local knowledge’ to her success.

“It’s great that [Southland riders] don’t have to travel for the national championship. We know the track better than everyone else, I guess we do have a bit of an advantage.”

Mid South Canterbury is a region renowned for producing top track riders including Hayden Roulston, Marc Ryan and Lauren Ellis.

It appears as if young Dylan Kennett is the region’s latest prodigy. Kennett, who set a national record on the opening night in the Under 17 500m Time Trial, last night backed up his performance with wins in the sprint and 2000m individual pursuit. He duelled Southland’s Tom Beadle in the sprint final, winning both sprints with a top speed clocking 60 kph.

Earlier in the day, the New Zealand Under 17 girls 2000m individual pursuit record was smashed twice in qualifying. Racing against eachother, defending title holder Alysha Keith (Otago) and Racquel Sheath (Auckland) both eclipsed the current national record held by Georgina Wilson.

The gold medal ride off was incredibly close, with Keith claiming victory, with Wilson having to settle for third place.

The master rider’s tackled the points races with Manu Robson (Waikato Bay of Plenty)
Dominating after winning the scratch race on the first day.

Robson has been racing for 25 years, having held an array of New Zealand titles.

“I once tried to give up cycling, but I failed!”.

Southland teenager Pieter Bulling produced a stunning ride to take out the under 19 points race, providing a tense and entertaining race for the crowd.

Results: www.bikenz.org.nz