Cyclists tackle Ruapehu ride

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 462, 17 November 1992, Page 1

Cyclists tackle Ruapehu ride

There were 165 winners in Saturday's Ohakune Green Bottle Round Ruapehu Ride, according to organiser Warwick Funnell. He said the second annual ride was a great success judging by the feedback from participants who made comments to the organisers, and from the answers to the questionnaire about the ride circulated by the Wanganui Cycle Club. "Our aim is to organise a fun ride and to see people have a go, and for the 165 people who took part, it was great fun and a great challenge," he said. Some of the riders pulled out, many with mechanical problems, leaving 145 to finish. "But of the ones who pulled out, all of them achieved something - you got twice as far as you said you would," he told Bulletin editor Robert Milne who took part. "At the finish line the biggest noise was made for two guys from Wanganui, Bill Peni and James' Matoe who had a whole minibus load of supporters, yet they came in after eight hours 16 minutes, nearly double the time of the fastest guys - and that's what it's about - taking on a challenge." The first home was Mark Young from Palmerston North in a time of four hours 31 minutes, Robert Small also from Palmerston

North was next in 4:31; and Aaron Kibblewhite, Ard van Houte, Jarrod Alte and Dion McGinness were home in 4:34. "The conditions were pretty good compared to last year," said Warrick. "With four met-res of snow on the mountain we expected it to be cold on the leeward side and it was. There was a mean head-wind, but there was also a good tail wind on the Chateau side.

The leading riders were travelling at around 60 kph in parts of the homeward leg. The numbers of participants was lower than hoped for, said Warrick, so next year the club is planning to include a shorter ride of around 70 kilometres and/or a team relay event, with three or four riders in a team. "That way we hope to get more non-racers and locals." This year there were six Ohakune en-

trants, one Waiouru and one from the Chateau. "We think the ride is a good one and that we've organised it well - the organisation was twice as good as last year - and I think it deserves more support." He said the Raetihi PTA once again did a marvellous job manning the drink stops and had a lot of fun too, and that the Raetihi Ohakune Rotary Club were to be thanked for their good work as marshals.

"We'd like to see more local involvement, such as a local community gala day." Rick Lowe from the Ohakune Hotel, who with Green Bottle were the main sponsors, said the event was a great success. He said all the riders came into the hotel very happy with the day. "I hope it will continue - it's good for the town as well as the hotel - I'd like to see more local support for it," he said.