Updates

Gidday everyone

Been busy times with lots of big events happening. What didn't happen was the Bike NZ level 2 coaching course. A tad annoying as I sat this in 1997 in Sydney but was prevented from meeting course requirements to pass. The course will now be run after NZ Track Nationals in March next year. Had I know this was going to happen would have gone to Sydney for Masters Worlds as many of my friends from the US and Australia were there.

I am now getting in some base miles and trying to get the body fat levels down for Track Nationals planning to go sub 3.50 for 3000m. Been doing some time trials and criteriums to help but at present the bulk of training is hard aerobic rides on the hills.

Riders have been doing the bizzo as per usual...

Megan Blatchford-Peck made the most of trying circumstances preparing for World Masters Track Cycling Champs. Aiming to perform in all events meant a different approach to training than her standard sprint training but the results were astounding. FOUR WORLD TITLES!!! 500m TT in a new PB, Scratch Race, Sprint (riding .2 sec faster than last year) and Points Race. Megan also rode a PB in the pursuit.

Justin Leov finished 6th in the Austrian DH World Cup and finished 8th in the World Cup Overall. Justin was due to recommence training on the 1st but a Motocross crash left him with 4 broken ribs and delayed return to riding.

Taylor Olson was the 5th fastest qualifier in the sprints at US Nationals and placed 7th overall in the rounds. His team (that was thrown together on the day) took 4th place. Taylor has been taking a break and hitting the MTB trials in Minnesota for some R&R.

Allen Vugrinicic placed 12th in the Kilo at US Nationals behind the very well performed Taylor Phinney.

Tom Hubbard was part of the Christchurch Boys High School Team that won the Sir Bernard Ferguson trophy Teams Time Trial event. He unfortunately crashed in the Points Race around the Manfield Car Race Track going down hard at speed. This made preparation for road nationals difficult where Tom (as did many other NZ team riders) failed to finish the U19 men's road race.

Sharron Dawson was superb in taking the 6hr solo mtb event at McLean's Island. She started hard and maintained a lead over a strong field including the NZ XC Women's Champion.

Brooke Williams won her first Canterbury Championship taking out the U15 girls time trial over 10km. At road nationals she placed 7th in the time trial and 8th in the road race.

Will Bowman enjoyed his first NZ road nationals taking 11th place in the time trial and 12th in the road race. Great preparation for the MTB XC season. He will also been doing some track racing to complete his introduction to all aspects of the sport.

Good luck to those doing 5 Passes and K2 this weekend. Give it heaps. For those resting up enjoy the break.

Stay in touch! I'm only as good a coach as the feedback I receive!

Hamish