150 ride the second Tongariro Traverse

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 564, 29 November 1994, Page 7

150 ride the second Tongariro Traverse

Organisers and competitors breathed a sigh of relief as blue sky framed , the start of the Skotel forest crossing mountain bike race on Sunday 1 3 ' November. Approximately 1 50 mountain bikers converged to contest the second annual forest crossing race through the 42 traverse in Tongariro Forest. The leading group were tightly bunched following their descent down the mountain road and no one had managed to break away before they cornered into the start of the off-road section. Heavy rain the previous week had seriously eroded much of the already rutted downhill section and contributed to the increased number of crashes, punctures and overall difficulty. The four-wheel-drive mobilised Taumarunui CB club marshals were strategically positioned along the track and apart from reporting on riders' whereabouts provided a much needed service of assistance and repair. A difficult and challenging course, the race was aimed at "the expert level, fitness fartatics and the lunatic fringe." Race organiser, Maxine Parker, feels that all groups were represented on the day.

"This track is known as a classic ride and the race provides an opportunity for enthusiasts to test their skills and pit themselves against their peers." The race was won, once again, by Karl Bain currently of Hamilton but a previous Taumarunui resident. His winning time of two hours 1 3.04 was only five seconds ahead of second placegetter Jeremy Forlong. Third home was Chris Palmer with 2.14.45 The first woman to finish was Helen Priest with a time of 3 hours 00.17 seconds, followed by Pernille Fletcher 3.01.55 and Suzanne Feikert on 3.04.13. Results: Mens masters - 1st Barry Slater, time 2.52.02, overali placing 59th; 2nd Jack Foster, 2.53.17, 63rd; 3rd Bernard Fletcher, 3.04.29, 80th. Mens veterans - 1st Steve Elgar, 2.24.52, 15th; 2nd Marco Ftenalli, 2.26.39, 18th; 3rd Francis Hven, 2.28.34, 20th. Mens open - 1 st Karl Bain, 2.1 3.04, 1 st; 2nd Greg Dick, 2.1 6.32, 4th; 3rd Michael Tarrant, 2.17.32, 5th. Mens Junior - 1st Jeremy Forlong, 2.13.09, 2nd; 2nd Chris Palmer, 2.14.45, 3rd; 3rd Jason Yalden, 2.20.03, 10th. Women's masters, 1st Pam Kenny, 3.15.04, 101th. Womens veterans - 1st Sandra Fletcher, 3.04.31, 81st; 2nd Jenny Loe, 3.05.33, 85th; 3rd Karen Britten, 3.14.00, 99th. Womens open - 1st Helen Priest, 3.00.17, 72nd; 2nd Suzanne Furkert, 3.04.13, 78th; 3rd Lynda Jefferies, 3.10.40, 93rd. Womens Junior - 1st Pernille Fletcher, 3.01.55, 75th; 2nd Kiri Manning, 3.32.30, 115.