2009 National Track Cycling Championships

My key highlight at the track nationals was taking the bronze medal in the Elite Women’s Sprint. (Natasha Hansen 1st, Penny Day 2nd). In the semi final, with the winner going through to ride for the gold/silver final, I lost the first sprint, won the second, but lost the third, realising that my 6 hour a week training routine didn’t really give me enough gas in the tank to do the biz on the final sprint.

It was a hard days racing with some really talented riders I had to do battle with. I was so grateful to have Mike McRedmond helping me. Mike has this amazing ability to bring out the very best in everyone on race day.

I placed 10th in the 500mTT equaling my PB and battled my way through the Keirin heats to make the final finishing 5th.

I told myself if I didn’t win a medal this year, then it would be time to change my national racing licence over from “Elite” to “Masters”, but at nearly 45 years, if I can still do the biz with the young chicks, I’m not going to give up just yet.

My other highlight was unofficially breaking the world age group record for the flying 200mTT. I didn’t realise I had done so until I headed back to my motel room and looked up the time on the internet. I had an official attempt later in the week in front of probably 400 people plus. I knew it wasn’t a good sign when the crowd went very silent after I’d finished! I just missed by 0.1 sec. But hey, I’m a great believer, not to put deadlines on your goals, but instead "time frames" and I’ve got five years to achieve this one.

I had a fantastic week down in Invercargill thoroughly enjoying hanging out with my team mates and all the great people you meet at events like this. Plus sleeping in each day and watching Oprah on TV each afternoon between sessions was an added bonus.

However, the champs ended with my coach Hamish and I, deciding that it was best for both of us to move on.

2009 WCNI Track Champs Photos

Got these great pics from Merv Richdale who was at the champs. If you were riding he may have some of you (mobile 0274474221).

The Keirin Action

2009 New Zealand Masters Games

Me with Pauline and Max Pendleton, parents of 2008 Olympic Sprint Gold medal winner, Victoria Pendleton.

The NZ Masters Games track cycling events were held on Thursday, 5 February in Wanganui.

There was a bit of confusion about the start time. The website said 5pm. When we got there the programme said 6pm, and there was a sign on the wall in the clubhouse saying 5.30pm.

It actually kicked off at 5:15pm with the 500m TT, with the women first up, so out to the track I went with absolutely no warm up apart from a few circuits around the cones!

After four years of riding 500mTT’s, I managed to be consistent and ride a another sh*t time for a sprinter, but did mange to take 0.3sec from the previous week’s WCNI champs time. I know I’m not going to achieve great results at Track Nationals competing in in the elite women’s category in this event but I have set a personal goal to break the World Record for my age group, which I think is very doable.

Emma Wensing, me, Fiona Southorn.

Next event was the Sprint. In extremely windy conditions (just look at our hair in the photo), I was happy to ride 12.5sec for my flying 200mTT.

Last year, I was going too fast and peaked too early, so this year my training has been changed so this won’t happen, however it has felt a bit frustrating when I have wanted to punch out good times at events like this.

The last event was the Scratch Race (I skipped the pursuit). As I was the only female doing this event in my age group category, I got fired in with the men 45-60 years, and I bet them all!

Here’s a video of the action over the last few laps taken take by “Bede Cam”. I’m in the green and white with the solid back disc wheel.



One of the big highlights of the evening for me was chatting to the people next to me, Pauline and Max from UK. They come out yearly to spend time each summer at their house in Blenheim and they made the trip up to Wanganui so Max could compete. Pauline said to me, our daughter ride’s the track, you might have heard of her, Victoria Pendleton? I couldn’t believe I was talking to the parents of the 2008 Olympic Women's Sprint gold medalist and World & Olympic record holder. Being a sprinter myself, I just idolize Victoria and her rise to the top and to meet her parent's and chat to her mum was fantastic.

As I was firing up my IPod, Pauline said that one of Victoria's favourite bands is “The Prodigy” (which is also mine too). When The Prodigy found out Victoria was a fan they invited her to a concert and gave her a special plaque signed by them all, saying “Respect”, how cool is that!

The Results
1st NZ Women's Masters 500m TT 40-44years
1st NZ Women's Masters Sprint 40-44years
1st NZ Women's Masters 3000m Scratch 40-44years