THE Bathurst Cycling Club’s Masters contingent have been consistently strong performers for a number of years now at state, national and international level and if the past fortnight is any indication, that trend will continue in 2015.
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Competing in the NSW Masters State Cycling Championships at Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney over two weekends, the large contingent of Bathurst riders claimed a host of top 10 finishes and a big swag of medals – six gold, five silver and four bronze.
While the more experienced of Bathurst’s Masters riders again found themselves on the podium, others who were new to this level of competition impressed as well.
“You certainly could say that we have been doing well lately,” Bathurst track vice president and Masters rider herself Marian Renshaw said.
“It was a real team effort too – we had some riders who have only been riding in Masters for six months.
“[I am] delighted with the results which reflected the professional attitude and commitment of all the riders.”
Bathurst’s sprinters were in action in the first weekend of competition and they were quick to live up to the club’s reputation of strong performances.
Renee Covington and Catherine Hooten qualified brilliantly in first and second place, then fought out three more rounds on their way to the podium.
Covington won gold and Hooten silver before the Bathurst duo paired up to not only claim a gold medal in the team sprint, but clock an Australian best time in the women’s all ages category.
Darryl Thorncraft qualified fourth in the sprints, then progressed to the ride off and claimed bronze.
Bathurst was represented in the women’s 90 plus category by the team of Marian Renshaw and state championship debutante Stacey Fish.
They rode a red hot time to succeed in gaining a silver medal for their efforts.
Fish also contested the time trial along with fellow newcomer Rachel Lovett and the experienced Renshaw, Thorncraft, Hooten, Covington and Rosemary Hastings.
According to Renshaw, the debutantes “put in exemplary efforts, doing personal best times for their age categories”.
Hastings, Covington and Renshaw each snared a gold medal in their respective age categories, Hooten added a silver to her haul, while Thorncraft earned a bronze.
In the individual pursuit, Hastings landed the best result with a third placing, while Renshaw, Graham Stait and another state level rookie in Richard Hobson placed in the 10.
It was a similar scenario in the points race with Covington claiming a bronze medal and Thorncraft, Hobson and Stait all placing well in the top 10 of their respective categories.
“Thorncraft completed the 80 lap points race as a precursor to the scratch race then, in an awesome effort, this popular quiet achiever of the Bathurst Cycling Club went on to win the state championship in the hotly contested scratch race,” Renshaw said.
In the women’s scratch race, Covington was once again on the podium with a silver medal while Renshaw was forced into abandoning after a fellow rider was disqualified for dangerous riding against her.
The final day saw former Australian Paralympian tandem pilot Toireasa Gallagher making her return to the track championships in the teams pursuit.
She rode in one of two Bathurst women’s teams. Her outfit, which also included Covington, Hooten and Fish, gained a silver medal in the very close ride off against the Canberra team.
The second Bathurst women’s team of Renshaw, Hastings and Angela Jones – in her return to the championships after a five year absence – finished in fifth place.
The Australian National Track Cycling Masters Championships will be held at the Dunc Gray Velodrome from March 11-14, with Bathurst expecting some good results once more.
