Northland Inter Secondary Schools Road Cycling Champs

19th May 2009

Sunday was a perfectly fine day and although at times a mite windy it was as near perfect for road cycling as Northland gets in winter.



The youngsters took advantage of the opportunity to race arriving from quite far a field to race at Jordan Valley Hikurangi. Cyclists from Mangawhai Whangarei and Kerikeri took part. The Road Cycling Champs drew the largest assembly of junior cyclists for years which was all made possible by the support of Avanti plus Whangarei, Sport Northland and Marsden Wheelers Cycle Club. 

Males and females competed in age groups ie under 15, under 17 and under 19.  However the male and female fields were combined to take the line as one year class – which made for interesting racing and alliances.  The high school aged juniors contested two disciplines the time trial (TT) and the road race.

The time trial was almost completely exposed to the wind and fortunately it was a tail wind almost all the way to the finish line.  Those with a good aero position and a smart race plan profited over the almost flat 6.3 km course.  The fastest time recorded for the day was laid down by U17 male champion Mathew Zenovich who recorded a best time of 8.43.  Following not far behind Mathew was Sam Frizelle and Interestingly enough Nayda Worthy the first U19 female!  All three ride for Marsden Wheelers and showed the benefit of training and technical assistance from club membership and the astute advice of Jonathon and Ruth Jarman who have run a coaching clinic all summer.  Georgia Walker U17 female and Olivia Wadman U15 female each won their respective divisions.  The stand out performance in these younger grades was Young Ben Johnstone U15 male.  His time of 9.47 was almost a minute faster than his next rival and would have placed him third in the senior’s race.

Jordan Valley’s rolling hills provided an interesting yet challenge road race course.  The U15s road one lap whilst the older grades road two or 27.5 kms.  Right from the start the senior race was dominated by Mathew Zenovich and Sam Frizelle.  By quarter distance Mathew’s power had won over and a small gap had opened between he and Sam who was doing his best to hold on.  They were followed not far back by a group who were being marshalled by Nadya Worthy to work and lap it out.  Nayda’s efforts saw her and her group achieve creditable results but Mathew prevailed with an outstanding time of 46.04.  Interestingly Sam gave away very little time in the second lap. 

The U15s male and female results also followed the form indicated by the riders in their time trials.  Olivia Wadman was again the fastest as was Ben Johnstone.  Ben’s time was almost 40 seconds faster than his Marsden Wheeler colleague Douglas Wright and although this was a significant margin Douglas had held his rival to a smaller margin.  He’d given away almost a minute over the shorter TT yet had given up less time in the road race over twice the distance.

The day concluded much as it had started, with quiet northland roads, on a beautiful day, however Northland had her road cycling champions confirmed.  They are of a standard to compete well anywhere in the country despite the lower numbers who participate in the spot.  The U15 grade also confirmed that we have riders with potential for future years.

U19 Female Champion Nadya Worthy 10:18 TT 52:24 Road 1:02:42 Combined

U17 Female Champion Georgia Walker 10:54 TT 56:40 Road 1:07:34 Combined

U17 Male Champion Mathew Zenovich 08:43 TT 46:40 Road 0:54:47 Combined

U15 Female Champion Olivia Wadman 10:42 TT 27:55 Road 0:38:37 Combined

U15 Male Champion Ben Johnstone 09:47 TT 25:50 Road 0:35:37 Combined

Shaughan Anderson Bike Northland

For further Information Please contact

Kevin Futter – Marsden Wheelers president

Paul Fancy – Avanti Plus Whangarei

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