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The return of George Baxter livened up the cycling scene when he took first place and fastest time in Cuddon Cycling Marlborough’s Waihopai event last Saturday afternoon.

The open grade 40km handicap event covered a course from the Grove Mill Winery to just above Craiglochart and return. With a slight head wind on the outward journey the strong 1minute 30second break bunch led by Baxter caught the 3 minute group and then the 6 minute group just after the turn for home. The large group motored back down the valley to run down the front runners with approximately 10km to go. Seventeen riders lined up for the sprint to the line with Baxter heading off Ray Dunstan (1m 30s), Glen Herkt (3m), Mike Murphy (1m 30s), Graham Henderson (6m), and Martyn Bruce (1m 30s) respectively in a close finish. Baxter, Dunstan and Murphy also took the time placings respectively after heading off the scratch group by 35 seconds.

The junior under 17 grade rode a 20km handicap event to just beyond the Spy Station and return. Hard riding by the scratch duo of Callum Streeter and Ethan Roach saw them hit the front just before the finish. Roach took the sprint for line honours and fastest time from Streeter. Two seconds back Emma Crosswell (off 12m) took third place from co-marker Daniel Cresswell.

Results:

Open grade- 40km handicap, G Baxter (off 1m 30s) 1, R Dunstan (off 1m 30s) 2, G Herkt (off 3m) 3, M Murphy (off 1m 30s) 4, G Henderson (off 6m) 5, M Bruce (off 1m 30s) 6, R Murphy (off 6m) 7, M McManaway (off 6m) 8, W Borst (off 12m) 9, M Loach (off 12m) 10. Fastest time, G Baxter (1m 30s) 59m 30s 1, R Dunstan (1m 30s) s.t. 2, M Murphy (1m 30s) s.t. 3, M Bruce (1m 30s) s.t. 4, B Neylon (1m 30s) s.t. 5. Womans fastest time, B Frazer (scr) 60m 05s 1, R Murphy (6m) 64m 00s 2, M Lister (6m) s.t. 3.

Junior under 17 grade- 20km handicap, E Roach (off scr) 1, C Streeter (off scr) 2, E Crosswell (off 12m) 3, D Cresswell (off 12m) 4, L Landon-Lane (off 7m 30s) 5. Fastest time, E Roach (scr) 30m 24s 1, C Streeter (scr) 30m 29s 2, L Landon-Lane (7m 30s) 38m 51s.

Marty Bruce outsprinted his co-markers to win the Vincent Shield in Cuddon Cycling Marlborough’s opening day at Renwick on Saturday afternoon.

The open grade 34km handicap event was ridden in damp conditions over 3 laps of the Condors Bend/ Renwick circuit. All the action  in the event evolved at the start of the final lap. The 6 minute bunch had just hit the front when they were overhauled quickly by the 8 strong break bunch (off 1m 30s). These riders kept up their pace to line up for the sprint home in Condors Bend Road. Bruce produced the strong finish for line honours to head off Paul Newman and Bronwen Frazer. The scratch pair of Tony Catterick and Gerard van Antwerpen rode a hard race to finish just 25 seconds back with Catterick taking time honours.

The junior under 17 grade event for the Opening Day Cup was reduced to 11.4km due to roadworks. Scratch markers Callum Streeter and Ethan Roach through the field with Streeter just having the edge in a close sprint to take victory and fastest time honours. Anna Duggan (off 4m) stuck to her task to take a comfortable third place.

Results:

Open grade- Vincent Shield 34km handicap, M Bruce (off 1m 30s) 1, P Newman (off 1m 30s) 2, B Frazer (off 1m 30s) 3, C Heywood (off 1m 30s) 4, D Craig (off 1m 30s) 5, M Mulder (off 1m 30s) 6, M Catterick (off 1m 30s) 7, M Murphy (off 1m 30s) 8, T Catterick (off scratch) 9, G van Antwerpen (off scratch) 10. Fastest time, T Catterick (scr) 48m 47s 1, G van Antwerpen (scr) s.t. 2, M Bruce (1m 30s) 49m 52s 3. Womens fastest time, B Frazer (1m 30s) 49m 52s 1, M Catterick (1m 30s) s.t. 2, R Murphy (6m) 56m 46s 3.

Junior under 17 grade- opening Day Cup 11.4km handicap, C Streeter (off scratch) 1, E Roach (off scratch) 2, A Duggan (off 4m) 3, Q Karwowski (off 3m) 4, L Landon-Lane (off 2m) 5. Fastest time, C Streeter (scr) 17m 35s 1, E Roach (scr) 17m 36s 2, L Landon-Lane (2m) 21m 54s 3.