On Saturday the 1st December we held our 6th Annual Round Rangihoua 4 hour Challenge. With great sunshine the event was set up and ready with thanks to the many people that helped and thank you to the Auckland Mountain Bike Club and the Jafakids for great support!
The kids race kicked off att 9.30 with local kids, Jake Osborne came first followed by Max Lowe, other winners on the day were Freddie, Nico, Imri, George who all tackled the race for some fun prizes and other goodies.
Main event registered with 19 solo riders 3 doing single speed and 18 teams with total field of over 80 riders competing, with 37 riders on the 4.km track at any one time it made for a day of fun and enjoyment for all. With the riders lined up on the half way line of the rugby field a Le Mans start ensure the quick 50 m sprint to their bikes made for any exciting start as all riders fought for position to get through the start finish line and up the Rangihoua hill for the climb up to “nice and easy” Once there rider were greeted with shade and a trail that is tight and fast through the pungas and rocks all the way on the side of the Rangihoua.
On the west side of the mountain the competitors enjoy the open field called the “Prairie trail” (opp dirt track clubrooms) where rider can catch a breath before the final assault on the 4.2km through the chicken run. Riders then exit from the chicken run for a lap of the soccer field back to the start finish for transition, a lap can take from 11 minutes 30 seconds at an average speed of 21kmhr, most riders were in the 15 minute range to tag in the next rider, for the solos it was carry on for another 14 laps!
Winners for the day were a junior team from town called Dont be fat huck to flat. With 15 laps with fasted time also time of 11 minutes 30 seconds for lap. Solo winner Jared Scollay with a close second Graham Solo by 14 minutes after 4 hours of hard slog.The local Waiheke team CGR came 2nd overall and won the mens teams section with 15 laps in the 4 hours and an average speed of 19kmhr for the entire event! Two 10 year olds from Waiheke, Serina Woodhall and Max Lowe competed in the main event and were keeping up with the adults and beating their time. Well done to all for competing in such a fun race.
Waiheke Mountain Bike Club would like to thank the following for the great support that made the event the day it is..
Fullers, Sealink, Action Traffic, Bike Barn, Waiheke Car Rental, Soho Wines, Wunderbites, Pukeko Signs, Purple Dog Design, Waiheke Hire Centre, Only Water, Marketplace, Sol, Pete, Matt, Todd, Rodney, Rodney’s Mum, Katya, Jo the kids.
Vaughan and Mark say next year we will double the riders participating and with the feedback already we are starting to think ahead of next years events.
Results below (opens PDF file)
Thanks to Sol Harris (www.purpledog.co.nz) for the video and gallery images