Hopes of snow for last cyclocross race dashed in 'a muddy one'

Cyclocross competitor George Blackie from Alexandra during the last race in the Queenstown...
Cyclocross competitor George Blackie from Alexandra during the last race in the Queenstown cyclocross series yesterday. Photo by Christina McDonald.
The final race in a five-race cyclocross series was held yesterday. Racers have negotiated frozen mud and ice since the series began in June, but no snow.

Race organiser Carey Vivian said he had hoped to have a race day with snow on the 2km track, but "this year, because it's been so warm, it was a muddy one".

Cyclocross is a style of cycle racing in which racers navigate a set course including obstacles such as small lakes and raised wooden features. These often force riders to carry their cycles.

The course had been set up in the lower paddocks behind the Remarkables Park town centre and riders were given an hour to complete laps as many laps as possible.

Mr Vivian said there had been about 38 competitors for the first races of the series this year, but numbers had more than halved for the recent ones.

While he and other organisers had not made a decision about whether the series would be held next year, the New Zealand title race, which was held in Napier this year, had been confirmed for Queenstown for 2013, Mr Vivian said.

Gavin Mason, of Wanaka, was first overall in the men's competition, Hamish Fraser, of Wanaka, was second and Brent Henderson, of Queenstown, third.

Anja McDonald of Dunedin won the women's section and Hannah Thorne, of Dunedin, came second.

 

 

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