8 February 2009

New Zealand’s only Olympic cycling medal winner, Gary Anderson, is still a force in the sport as he proved on the road at the 20th ACC NZ Masters Games  which ended in  Wanganui at the weekend.

Anderson, 41, winner of a pursuit medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the country’s most prolific Commonwealth Games cycling champion, covered the 24km time trial in 33min 4sec.

He de-throned titleholder Ray Marshall (Petone – 44) who was runner-up in the same age group (40-44) but with a time of 36:52 compared with his winning ride of 33.34 at the last Games in Wanganui in 2007.

Bruce Galloway (Napier – 54) was second quickest in 34.55 followed by Nigel Gregory (PN – 46) 35.20 and Barry Gillard (PN – 56) 35.50.

Fastest women were Mireille Sitters (Auckland – 40) 38.33, Fiona Southorn (Waipu – 41) 38.36 and Nichola Wilson (LH – 37) 40.20.

Former national champion Bruce Goldsworthy (Auckland – 68) was in form on the track, claiming three age grade titles – time trial, sprint and 3000m scratch race.

Fastest 500m  time trial came from Alex Lapianche (Wellington – 39) with 35min 65sec to head off Jeremy Cottam (New Plymouth – 37) 36.48 and Chris Henderson (Taupo – 37) 36.75  who claimed revenge by winning the sprint and 2000m individual pursuit titles

Most successful woman rider was Emma Wensing (Wellington – 30) who snared four titles.

The Tui Wairarapa women’s over-35 hockey side tuned up for the world Masters Games in Sydney in October in style by retaining the NZ title won in 2007.

There was a great tussle between Aucklanders Philip Exeter (45) 52m 24s and Richard Couchman (55) 52.25 for fastest time in canoeing with Ben Bennett (Napier – 57) clocking 54.17 and Gaylene McFarlane (Tauranga – 50) fastest woman in 1:12.25.

Three defending champions from 2007 to retain motocross cross-country tiles were Mathew Casserley (Wanganui – 36),  Doug Barnett (Papakura – 43) and Andy Galpin (Marton – 48).

Wellington Jurassics, a strong force in national volleyball, retained the top Masters Games championship title from Triple X (Wanganui) and Mad Frogs (PN).

NZ Masters (Wellington) won the social competitive grade, Classic Hitters (Wanganui) retained the social fun title and Triple X (Wanganui) headed off Jurassics for the age group honours.

Taupo’s David Currie (57) returned the highest aggregate of 293 to head the three sessions of the Twilight 400 multi sport event which drew 262 starters.

Others to top 255 pts were Ian Symes (Wanganui – 47) 261.9, Peter Ellery (Wanganui – 69) 256.4, John Rountree (Wanganui – 65) 255.8 and Gordon Keelty (Wanganui – 64) 255.5.

Best women’s scores were from Tracy Dillon (Wanganui - 40) 246.7 and Debbie Cain (Wanganui – 39), who was the very first entrant for the 2009 Games, 241.8.

Te Puke’s B graders Gavin Coffin (52) 577pts and Allan Beaver (50) 564 collected the top and third best smallbore rifle outdoor scores with Dave Edmonds (Bulls – 52) claiming second highest score of 566 for a title in the C grade.

Kieren O’Neill (Woodville – 42) recorded the quickest duathlon time of 79 starters with hr 33m 37s, heading home fellow gold medal winners Kevin Fee (PN - 42) 1:33.51 and Brian Warren (Hawera – 60) 1:34.08.

Fastest women were Kristina Peina (Papamoa – 31) 1:50.33, Kathy O’Donnell (Wanganui – 48) 1:52.10 and Prue Paulger (Wanganui – 55) 1:53.18.

The Wanganui Conder (Rob 36 and Paula 34) and Page (Jason 35 and Catherine 39) families teamed up to win the men’s and women’s team races.

Visitors took time honours and titles in the multisport through Ron Wetrner (PN – 43) in 1hr 5m 15s and Peter Lamont (Gisborne – 52) 1:07.32 in the men and Leslie Mochan (Tauranga – 44) 1:14.41 and Ruth Ward (Levin – 58) 1:20.34 in the women.