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The 21st Bev May Women's Tour has been another wonderful event put on by Morrinsville Wheelers Cycling Club. Thank you to all sponsors, in particular our major event sponsors: Harcourts KDRE (Morrinsville, Cambridge, Matamata, Ngaruawahia) www.kdre.co.nz Ultimo Clothing (Wellington) – all race jerseys looked FANTASTIC!! www.ultimoclothing.co.nz www.cyclingnzshop.com thank you for the items you provided for the junior race winners. Also, thanks to Sally Fraser for her contribution towards rider awards and Udderly Smooth for supplying some neat spot prizes once again. Thank you to race officials, marshals, commissaires, policemen Erik and Wayne, judges, wheel wagons and helpers in various roles. Without everyone “pulling their turn” the event would not be so successful. A number of riders have provided awesome feedback saying how much they have enjoyed the tour. A Bonus we must mention, beautiful sunny weather!! A short fall in entries does not take away from the awesome competition that has taken place. We are grateful to riders for their continued support of the tour, and hope rider enthusiasm will carry over to clubs and individuals to encourage riders back to the tour in 2011! The class of riders at this years tour was fantastic: Congratulations to all prize winners (Results are already on the website). Congratulations to all finishers – it takes courage to continue. Fortunately this year there were not crashes and only a few punctures (although always annoying!). Sonia Waddell dominating A Grade (finishing 1st in each stage and taking out the overall GC), Courteney Lowe took out the Sprint Ace and Queen of the Mountains jerseys (sponsored by Ultimo). Rosy McCall was a close 2nd in the Sprint Ace competition and only was pipped at the post in the final stage criterium for that competition. Chubby Hale took out the “Most Aggressive Rider” and deservedly from all accounts, riders mentioned that she took the stuffing out of them on the Bell Road circuit (Sunday morning). Georgia Williams also proved she had what it took to win the B Grade tour! C Grade rider Jo Carrel held her lead from the time trial to the criterium showing good form! Local riders Zola McDonald and Mary van Huysen put in stellar efforts to be 2nd & 3rd respectively. U17 Georgina Wilson proved too strong in her grade taking out the Tour Leader, Queen of the Mountains and Sprint Ace jerseys. She will be one to watch in the future. Not too far back were Julia Main, Devon Hiley and Raquel Sheath in 2nd – 4th places respectively. The Saturday only competition was popular again with the U15 and U13 riders with Maxyna Cottam winning by only one second from Morrinsville’s Jordyn Crouch. The U13s did particularly well to cope in the 21km and 16km stages. Jessica Read took the U13 title this year. Morrinsville put in a great effort in this competition with three girls and the youngest being only eight years old! Morrinsville Wheelers riders did fantastically well in their ‘home’ event. Well done to all of you. We had representatives across each grade: C = Mary van Huysen, Barbera Lucia, Kaye Wolfe, Zola McDonald, Andrea Deane. B = Rebecca Hurcomb, U15/U13 = Jordyn Crouch, Jade Richards, Julia Williams, Terese Williams, Phoebe Hannah, U17 = Oliva Spaans. We also congratulate our ‘regulars’ from other clubs: Pip Sutton, Courteney Lowe and Chubby Hale. The courses for this years tour were practically the same as in other recent years, unfortuantely a few spots of seal maintenance were annoying, but riders coped particularly well for the inconvenience. The Time Trial was again on the Hangawera circuit, and again proved challenging, but a great leg spinner for those who like time trials! Stage Two by most accounts was enjoyable. Stage Three proved challenging for the A/B Grade who climbed around the Bell Road circuit six times with a mixture of sprint bonuses and hill climb spints on each lap! The legs were sure to be sore ofter that effort, but then they had to make their way back to town to finish up Scott Road - ouch!! Just when riders thought they were done, the criterium was the icing on the cake! Anyone who finished all these stages deserves a huge applause! Congratulations to Bev May for the 21st Bev May Women's Tour, and for 50 years of cycling involvement. Most people will agree that her efforts for women's cycling have helped women riders tremendously throughout the years. Her enthusiasm rubs off on those around her, and she has built a strong team to make this event so successful! Without Bev's contributions, her family and club support (and team of commissaires throughout the WBOP Centre and further a field) this event would be a shadow of what it has achieved thus far! |
