Congratulations to everyone who completed the 2009 Classic Hits WildCoaster - 109km of stunning scenery and delightful road. Well done!

A big thank you to Classic Hits Scenicland, Grey Ford, Monteiths, and Development West Coast for their help in bringing this event to you. Thanks also to Fresh Choice Westport for the refreshing fruit at Carters Beach and to Kawatiri Coffee, Tineli and Cardrona Hotel for adding to the prize table.

A huge thank you to Westport Harrier Club, the NBS Strider Hands and St John for their invaluable assistance out on the course. We will let you know the total amount that will be passed on to St John West Coast soon.

Provisional Results are now available - click here to download the
2009 Classic Hits WildCoaster Results (pdf)

Photos taken on the day will be uploaded soon - check out www.paulwebster.co.nz later in the week

Looking for your next challenge? Ladies, entries for the 2009 Tineli Nelson Tour de Femme open on Tuesday (limited to 100 riders), and entry will open soon for the 2010 NBS Nelson Lakes 90. Keep watching our website for more information.

2009 Classic Hits WildCoaster

The infamous West Coast displayed it’s full range of ‘faces’ with torrential rain, snow, gale force winds and power cuts ‘welcoming’ visitors on Friday evening. But, Saturday morning dawned clear, still, brisk and perfect for the eager peleton of the Classic Hits WildCoaster.

Nelson’s Michael Naylor is the new record holder winning the Greymouth to Westport ride in 2hr 46min 36sec and, but for a compulsory stop at Rapahoe for a coal train early in the 109km journey along the ‘Coast Road’ he would have been another 90seconds quicker. But road rules apply in any bike race with trains ‘always getting the right of way’!

By Punakaiki, Naylor had already made his intentions felt, leading the bunch by a handy twenty seconds but the business end of the event beckoned. Tasman Glass team mate, Dean Fulton and Hokitika’s Kevin O’Donnell rejoined soon after and the trio honed in on staying away until the Carters Beach sprint.

Bad luck however, struck Fulton with a broken spoke forcing him to nurse his machine to the finish.

Naylor though, was only going to be content with one place and jubilantly crossed the line ten seconds ahead of O’Donnell who couldn’t match him in the home straight.

2008 winner Brent ‘Shorty’ Allnutt was again on the podium just pipping George Bennett for third.

The women’s race was more clear cut with Nelson’s Jeannie Kuhajek (3.03.25) supreme, and probably ‘robbed’ of claiming Susie Gowers 2007 record by the train.

Cathy Hamer made amends for her mechanical problems last year to finish runner up three minutes back followed by Corina Wilson.

A healthy increase in relay teams (male, female and mixed) provided an anxious buzz at the Punakaiki Resort changeover point with team members eagerly awaiting their chance to turn the pedals.

West of the Alps are three distinct regions (Buller, Grey and Westland) – extremely parochial and fiercely competitive. At stake in this bike race is the Blowhard Trophy – a handsome artwork inspired by the mighty blowholes and fascinating pancake rocks and recognizing the effort required to ‘beat’ the course. The times of the five fastest riders from each region, including 1 female, are added with the lowest total claiming ‘bragging rights’ for the next 12 months. Westland, with a total time of 14hrs 51mins 24sec, were comfortable winners ahead of Buller, 16:19:40 and Grey, 17,08:58.

Results.

Overall. Men: Michael Naylor, Nelson, 2.46.36, 1; Kevin O’Donnell, Hokitika, 2.46.46, 2; Shorty Allnutt, Hokitika, 2.47.53, George Bennett, Nelson, 2.47.54, 4; Jonathan Kalma, Nelson, 2.48.24, 5. Women: Jeannie Kuhajek, Nelson, 3.03.25, 1; Cathy Hamer, Hokitika, 3.06.40, 2; Corina Wilson, Reefton, 3.28.29, 3; Linda Wensley, Chch, 3.43.45, 4; Michelle Neylon, Reefton, 3.50.05, 5.

Age Groups: Men. Under 40: Naylor, 1; O’Donnell, 2; Allnutt, 3.
40-49: Craig Phillips, Chch, 2.57.41, 1; Mike Head, Chch, 3.11.02, 2; Neil Gillespie, Hokitika, 3.11.31, 3.
50-59: Tony Woodall, Nelson, 3.06.40, 1; Chris Yeats, Hokitika, 3.11.30, 2; William Marshall, Chch, 3.15.06, 3.
60+: Richard Tregidga, Marlb, 3.32.20, 1; Adrian Buttimore, Chch, 3.40.44, 2; Andrew Cudworth, Chch, 3.47.55, 3.

Women. Under 40: Kuhajek, 1; Wilson, 2; Neylon, 3.
40-49: Hamer, 1; Wensley, 2; Judy Ross, Chch, 4.00.09, 3.
50-59: Jan Crawford, Ashburton, 3.49.02, 1; Donna Kerr, Marlb, 4.00.35, 2; Jill Flint, Marlb, 4.15.09, 3.
60+: Dianne East, Chch, 4.04.32, 1.

Relays.
Male: Team Latte Boys, Greymth, 3.11.11, 1; Team Lisheul Grosser, Chch, 3.23.32, 2; Team Killer, 3.28.17, 3.
Female: Top 10 Girls, Greymth, 3.43.07, 1; Teamsteel, Chch, & Holiday Fun, Westport, 3.47.53, 2=.
Mixed: Lance is 1 Today, Greymth, 3.25.20, 1; Development West Coast, 3.43.02, 2; Rose and Bri, Westport, 3.45.06, 3.

2008 WildCoaster
Congratulations to all of you who competed yesterday. It was not easy in those conditions! The hardest year yet!

Wringing Wet WildCoaster

The weather forecaster got it 100% right for Saturday but 150 cyclists still 'saddled up' and completed the second WildCoaster ride from Greymouth to Westport. Some picked up their racepack at Wingham Park but soon decided not to join the peleton on the journey northwards but the brave braced themselves for the 109km testing trek to Carters Beach.

Hokitika's Brent Allnutt led them all home following a 50km solo effort, riding 3hours 15minutes 50seconds. Just over two minutes back Glen Gould (Timaru) shaded former New Zealand Rower Ian Smallman (Chch) by two ticks. Smallman's wife, Sarah, was a clear cut winner in the womens section handily ahead of fellow Cantabrians, Sue Lazar (first 40-49 woman) and Hana Black.

The BlowHard Trophy went south as Westland's Allnutt, Kevin O'Donnell, Mike Charles, David Smith and Christan Bahler proved to be the strongest regional district combination, Grey and Buller followed. Leading the relay combinations were: Men, Gibbs Thwaites (Greymouth); Women, Squidwards (Nelson); Mixed, AW Interiors (Chch).

Next year's ride is scheduled for Saturday October 10th.

Results:
Overall: Men. Brent Allnutt, Hokitika, 3.15.50, 1; Glen Gould, Timaru, 3.18.00, 2; Ian Smallman, Chch, 3.18.02, 3. Women: Sarah Smallman, Chch, 3.56.44, 1; Sue Lazar, Chch, 4.21.14, 2; Hana Black, Chch, 4.32.56, 3.
Categories: Men. Under 40: Allnutt, 1; Gould, 2; Smallman, 3. 40-49: Chris Brooks, Chch, 3.19.59, 1; Greg Jeff, Greymouth, 3.20.01, 2; Brett Leydon, Chch, 3.38.46, 3. 50-59: Ron Pithie, Chch, 3.31.19, 1; Ken Richardson, Greymouth, 3.42.38, 2; Hilary Green, Napier, 4.03.32, 3. 60+: Richard Tregidga, Nelson, 4.31.50, 1; Duncan McFadyen, Hastings, 4.55.15, 2; Chris Coll, Westport, 4.58.32, 3. Women. Under 40: Smallman, 1; Black, 2; Jo Smith, Chch, 4.48.29, 3. 40-49: Lazar, 1; Jennifer Dravitzki, Nelson, 4.36.02, 2; Deb Bailey, Reefton, 4.40.03, 3. 50-59: Diane Webster. Chch, 5.39.44, 1; Donna Baker, Marlb, & Irene Patterson, Marlb, 6.01.02, 2=. 60+: Dianne East, Chch, 4.56.37, 1. Relay: Men. Glen Gibb/Michael Thwaites (Gibb Thwaites), Greymouth, 3.47.13, 1; Jacob Olykan/Duncan Francis (Asparagus), Nelson, 4.13.32, 2; Phil Campbell/Matt Levien (Greymouth Top 10), Greymouth, 4.24.23, 3. Women. Julia Main/Amanda Main, (Squidwards), Nelson, 4.03.33, 1; Steph Levien/Leah Russ (Top 10 Greymouth), 4.26.11, 2; Lynn Irving/Janine Potts (Janlyn), Westport, 4.55.15, 3. Mixed. Megan Ayrton/Grant McNeish (AW Interiors), Chch, 5.34.26, 1; Jaimee Comeskey/Paul Comeskey (JPC), 5.35.39, 2. BlowHard Trophy: Westland District, 19.03.07, 1; Grey District, 19.39.31, 2; Buller District, 20.20.25, 3.

Punakaiki Resort Wild Coaster 2007 Results

A modest first up field in Saturday's inaugural Punakaiki Resort WildCoaster 109km road cycle from Greymouth to Westport but enought to 'test all systems' and cement the event on next year's calendar, albeit a bit early on October 4th.

The Canterbury pair of Neil Sutherland and Oliver Pearce split from the field early on and had an all out battle up the undulating Coast Road only separated by Sutherland's sprint home. It was a Pearce family dias benefit with Oliver's brother Thomas third home and Dad, Malcolm, was in the same bunch.

Women's honours were more clear cut but again it was a Canterbury trifecta. Susie Gowers went close to eclipsing the three hour mark and no doubt will be back in 2008 knowing now what the 'benchmark' will be. Second placed Ruth Ball had a comfortable margin as did Rebecca Hensley from the rest of the women's field as she secured third.

At stake for local riders was the 'Blowhard Trophy' with Grey District gaining 'bragging rights' after being named the top Coast Region. Grey's first five riders 15hrs 52mins 26secs total time left Westland almost ten minutes in arrears with Buller not far behind. The concept will be enhanced next year with ten riders times being counted - three of which will be women.

Relays had the luxury of spitting the distance, changing over at Punakaiki Resort and it was the hometown Runanga L & G combine (Glenn Speakman & Louise Mouslem) finishing just ahead of Greymouths Lattee Boys (Michael Thwaites & Glen Gibb) by a 'bike length'.

Most found the course challenging, a favourable tailwind helping them home to the welcome Whitebait Sandwich washed down with a Summer Lager courtesy of the WestCoast Brewery, but once 'fed and watered' many were ready to sign up to re-pedal it in ten months time.

The National Heart Foundation was the chosen charity this year and benefitted by $675.

Men
1 Neil Sutherland, Chch, 2.47.48
2 Oliver Pearce, Chch, 2.47.50
3 Thomas Pearce, Chch, 2.55.17
4 Tim Sikma, Westport, ST
5 Malcolm Pearce, Chch, ST
6 Jeff Best, Timaru, 2.57.06
7 Kevin O'Donnell, Franz Joseph, 2.58.04
8 Garth Wilson, Greymouth, 2.58.57
9 Alex Ball, Chch, 3.02.16
10 Peter Sinclair, Chch, 3.02.17

Women
1 Susie Gowers, Chch, 3.02.22
2 Ruth Ball, Chch, 3.14.11
3 Rebecca Hensley, Chch, 3.21.57
4 Robyn Abbey, Westport, 3.27.24
5 Anne Kerr, Hokitika, 3.27.34
6 Michelle Jacques, Ross, 3.29.26
7 Anna MacGougan, Timaru, 3.37.59
8 Julia Sanday, Chch, 3.50.06
9 Jo Holmes, Chch, 3.51.45
10 Glenice Powell, Waverley, 3.55.06

Relay
1 L&G (Speakman/Mouslem), Runanga, 3.18.11
2 Lattee Boys (Thwaites/Gibb), Greymouth, 3.18.12
3 Sarah Caseley & Warren Gilbertson, Greymouth, 3.36.15
4 Wests Mugs (John Dixon/Warren Clark) Nelson, 3.42.52
5 Megasorearse (Sandra Farrell/Graeme Wylde), Greymouth, 3.43.03

Blowhard Trophy
1 Grey District: Garth Wilson, Ken Richardson, Leon Dawson, Kerry Calder, Jason Davidson, 15.52.26
2 Westland District: Kevin O'Donnell, Chris Yeats, David Smith, Tony Le Sueur, Ann Kerr, 16.02.17
3 Buller District: Tim Sikma, Win Teear, John Knudsen, John Bowen, Steven Rogers, 16.10.29