JasonM
03-09-2010, 06:30 PM
After missing a medal last year by the barest of margins, ACT's Allison Rice blasted her way to the gold medal in todays U17 womens national time trial championships. Allison was starting as the red hot favourite and she didnt disappoint hitting the half way turnaround with a convincing lead and then extending it on the return leg into a slight headwind. In claiming the gold, Allison was the only rider to break the magical 40km/h barrier (also the first U17W in over three years to do so).
Also competing today were ACT riders Lucy Kirk, Kate Huckstep, Maddy Marshall and Amy Jeppeson. Amy and Maddy were out in the first batch of riders and set the pace at the half way check. Pushing in to the second half of the field and the big guns were coming out to play. By the time Kate started the times were starting to come down but not to be outdone she hit the half way turn in the fastest time. Next out was Lucy, who had a very determined look on her face and she shaved a few seconds off Kate's time at the turn to join two others in the fastest half way split. Coming into the straight Lucy was hot on the heels of her minute rider and claimed the second fastest time at that point. Last up was Allison who handled the pressure like a true professional and claimed the gold. Lucy's time was good enough to claim 7th and Kate just missed a top 10, finishing in 11th place. Maddy finished 19th and Amy 29th.
Earlier in the day, Hamish Prosser, Tim Booth and Michael Rice competed in the U15 mens time trial. Hamish and Tim were competing in their first national championships and handled themselves exceptionally well. Hamish is more renowned for his MTB skills but his recent form in the junior training sessions showed signs he might be a suprise packet. Using a standard road helmet and borrowed aero bars Hamish attacked the course with vigour and came in looking like he had a good ride. In the end he finished well up from the bottom of the table and set himself up well for a good ride in tomorrows road race. Michael Rice was off towards the end and faced stiff compeition from the interstate riders. Michael was strong off the lind quickly down on his bars and into his rythym. Coming into the finish Michael still looked super strong and came in 8th, but less than a minute down on the winner. Also worth noting is that as an U15 rider Michael smashed through the 40km/h barrier and he will definitely be a rider to watch in the future.
Last up for the day was the U17 mens time trial. ACT had no fewer than 6 riders in this event. ACT team riders Sam Sautelle, Phil Jermyn, Sean Whitfield and Josh Buchanan have all been posting quite close times in the junior tours leading up the event and all rode within 50 seconds of each other at the recent ACT time trial champs, so it was always going to be a case of best guess for which one would perform best on the day. In the end all riders were out of the medals but it was Phil Jermyn who backed up his ACT champs success by posting the best time for an ACT rider with 20 minutes 50 seconds for the 15km course. Josh Buchanan proved his form had returning nicely and was only 7 seconds behind Phil - a great result considering some injuries and illness in the previous months had hampered his results. The unluckiest ride of the day went to Sam Sautelle who was the first rider off for the 17M but still posted a 21min time despite being sick and having no one to chase. A case of what might have been for Sam but he will definitely be a rider to watch in the future. Sean also posted a time in the 21min zone and all four of these riders should be proud of their efforts. Official times and places were still to be posted at the time of writing so times for other ACT riders, Karl Michelin-Beard and Nathan Booth were not available at the time of writing.
Tomorrow riders will tackle the road races in forecast wet and windy conditions which are sure to challenge even the best riders. Stay tuned for more results
Jason Mahoney
ACT Junior Team Coach
Also competing today were ACT riders Lucy Kirk, Kate Huckstep, Maddy Marshall and Amy Jeppeson. Amy and Maddy were out in the first batch of riders and set the pace at the half way check. Pushing in to the second half of the field and the big guns were coming out to play. By the time Kate started the times were starting to come down but not to be outdone she hit the half way turn in the fastest time. Next out was Lucy, who had a very determined look on her face and she shaved a few seconds off Kate's time at the turn to join two others in the fastest half way split. Coming into the straight Lucy was hot on the heels of her minute rider and claimed the second fastest time at that point. Last up was Allison who handled the pressure like a true professional and claimed the gold. Lucy's time was good enough to claim 7th and Kate just missed a top 10, finishing in 11th place. Maddy finished 19th and Amy 29th.
Earlier in the day, Hamish Prosser, Tim Booth and Michael Rice competed in the U15 mens time trial. Hamish and Tim were competing in their first national championships and handled themselves exceptionally well. Hamish is more renowned for his MTB skills but his recent form in the junior training sessions showed signs he might be a suprise packet. Using a standard road helmet and borrowed aero bars Hamish attacked the course with vigour and came in looking like he had a good ride. In the end he finished well up from the bottom of the table and set himself up well for a good ride in tomorrows road race. Michael Rice was off towards the end and faced stiff compeition from the interstate riders. Michael was strong off the lind quickly down on his bars and into his rythym. Coming into the finish Michael still looked super strong and came in 8th, but less than a minute down on the winner. Also worth noting is that as an U15 rider Michael smashed through the 40km/h barrier and he will definitely be a rider to watch in the future.
Last up for the day was the U17 mens time trial. ACT had no fewer than 6 riders in this event. ACT team riders Sam Sautelle, Phil Jermyn, Sean Whitfield and Josh Buchanan have all been posting quite close times in the junior tours leading up the event and all rode within 50 seconds of each other at the recent ACT time trial champs, so it was always going to be a case of best guess for which one would perform best on the day. In the end all riders were out of the medals but it was Phil Jermyn who backed up his ACT champs success by posting the best time for an ACT rider with 20 minutes 50 seconds for the 15km course. Josh Buchanan proved his form had returning nicely and was only 7 seconds behind Phil - a great result considering some injuries and illness in the previous months had hampered his results. The unluckiest ride of the day went to Sam Sautelle who was the first rider off for the 17M but still posted a 21min time despite being sick and having no one to chase. A case of what might have been for Sam but he will definitely be a rider to watch in the future. Sean also posted a time in the 21min zone and all four of these riders should be proud of their efforts. Official times and places were still to be posted at the time of writing so times for other ACT riders, Karl Michelin-Beard and Nathan Booth were not available at the time of writing.
Tomorrow riders will tackle the road races in forecast wet and windy conditions which are sure to challenge even the best riders. Stay tuned for more results
Jason Mahoney
ACT Junior Team Coach