The race was another tremendous success thanks in no small part to Bruce and Isaac Penner, Stew Hutchings, Clayton Stafford, and Marc Bailey trimming the course and setting up Friday Night.  Saturday morning the course control was managed by the irreplaceable crack team of Gary Piller and Dave Forgan watching the carnage on the fireman's hill, Michelle Ellis and Al Kolochuk on the rooty climb, Wayne Douglas at the lookout, Debby (Happy Birthday) Heemskerk and Lauri Wischoff on the road crossing, and Donovan watching the start loop and the parking lot crossing.  Timing and registration was well managed by Deb Whitten, Tara Lee Stilwell, and Blaine Sherman.  Please thank them for their time and contributions when you next have an opportunity.

 

Despite the biblical down pour Friday niight, Terwillegar provided an awesome venue once again for the 2007 Provincial Championships.  The course was altered for the Novice and Sport events to exclude the fireman's trail, and still provided ample challenge over the slippery roots and clay descents.  The Novice Mens race was a battle between Jon Benskin (United Cycle), Darcy Kuss (Pedalhead), Antonio Bilotta (Pedalhead), and Shannon Hein (United Cycle).  Shannon's strength allowed him to power away over the 4 lap race to a 6 minute advantage over Antonio in 2nd, closely followed by Darcy in 3rd and Jon in 4th.

 

The Sport Men's race was another excellent battle with Peter Knight and Trevory Pombert riding together in 3rd and 4th for half of the race chasing the eventual winning duo of Eckehart Marenholtz 1st (Pedalhead) and Mathew Dahl 2nd (Bow Cycle).  This back and forth race saw Kevin Mcmahon (Pedalhead) sneak in for 3rd just ahead of Peter Knight (United Cycle) in 4th, and Trevor succomb to his cramps and crashes.

 

The afternoon's start saw the course dry up to include the fireman's trail.  The expert men did not dissappoint and provided the most entertaining 6 laps of racing.  Bruce Penner (United Cycle) took the holeshot through the feedzone and was one of only 3 riders to consistently ride through fireman's.  This lead to a clean 45 second lead after the end of the first lap over hard charging Aaron Schooler (ERTC), Anthony Steenbergen (HR Block), Jeff Bolstad (HR Block, Tracey Shearer (Juventus), and Mike Blaesenhart (Hardcore).  Lap after lap the lead see-sawed between Bruce and Aaron.  Their back and forth battle allowed Jeff Bolstad to come from behind and sprint past Aaron at the line taking the win in 1hr 57min 27 seconds, Aaron coming in at 1hr 57 minutes and 30s for 2nd, and Bruce finishing 3rd in 1 hr 57 minutes 57 seconds. 

 

The men's and women's Elite races saw new Provincial Champions crowned for the first time.  In the women's race Loni Klettl (Freeskook) and Pepper Harlton (Juventus) battled back and forth for the 6 laps of the course.  Loni's technical skills proved too much as she edged Pepper by 15seconds to win her first Provincial Championship title.  The men's race saw 2004 Provincial Champion Marc Bomhoff (United Cycle) return to action, but right from the start of the 7 lap race 2004 runner up, Evan Sherman (United Cycle) pressed the pace opening a 15s advantage over MIke Sarnecki (ING) after a half lap.  Shawn Bunnin (Bicisport), Marc Bomhoff, Jon Nutbaum (Ridley's), Steve Martins (Hardcore) and Corey Wallace (Bicisport) worked hard and chased together lap after lap.  Jon fell out of the running after a brake failure, Marc pulled out after 4 laps as the rough course took it's toll and left Shawn and Corey chasing Evan.  In the end, Evan held his advantage from start to finish taking a 1 minute advantage to the line winning his first Provincial Championship title.  Shawn Bunnin held on to a 30 s advantage over Corey Wallace. 

 

 

The Legislative grounds hosted the annual points race.  Everyone that raced Saturday in the Provincial Mountain Bike Championship was out in action once again.  The large crowds of spectators were treated to an exceptionally well run event. 

 

Team United Cycle was fantastic.  There Chris Hubick, Family Knight, Bruce, Jenaya and Brys lead the cheering out on the course while the racers did their thing.

 

The cat. 5 race saw Corey Dickinson dominate with his first ever victory.  The everpresent west wind made it difficult to hold a prolonged solo effort, so each point lap, Corey was able to successfully open up a large gap on the climb.  Congratulations Corey, we'll see you in Cat. 4.

 

The cat. 4 race was very competitive with Peter Knight, Shannon Hein, and Jon Benskin all making the selection to the front group of 14 rides that elimated the rest of the field.  A back and forth race that saw Kirk Hamilton (RVC) stay away for the first 7 laps set the stage for both Shannon and Jon to successfully win the premium prizes during the race.  Jon was able to animate the race on each point lap and successfully won his second race in a row.  Not wanting to be outdone, Peter unleashed his potent sprint that we've watched during the cyclocross season and won the last lap/finish sprint for double points.  Congratulations on a well executed race.

 

The cat 1/2/3 race was incredibly entertaining.  The pre race strategy between Ryan Hopping (Laz-y-Boy), Marc Bomhoff (United Cycle), Evan Sherman (United Cycle), and Mike Sarnecki (ING) was to have one of them launch a counter attack after the first point sprint.  Ryan won the sprint and immediately after, Marc launched his attack.  This attack was followed by Anthony Steenberger (HR Block), Aaron Schooler (ERTC), Tim Bulger (ERTC), Corey Wallace (Bicisport), and Shaun Goulet (Pedalhead).  This 6 man break stayed away for the entire race with Evan and Mike controlling the front of the chase pack, keeping the pace consistent.  After the second points lap, Ryan attacked out of the chase group and immediately bridged the 30s gap to the leaders forming a group of 7 that would stay away for the entire race.

 

Back in the chase group, Evan suffered a hard crash that took him out of the event as he had nowhere to go when the two riders infront of him tangled.  This left only Mike to feature at the front of all of the photos of the chase group as he kept the pace consistenly hard enough to prevent anyone from wanting to come around him.  Mike also ended finishing 3rd in the finish sprint out of the chase group.  As each points lap came up, Ryan and Marc were able to successfully win enough of the point sprints for Marc to win the overall - making it a United Cycle sweep - with Ryan cleaning up the premium sprints.  Congrats Marc.  That was awesome to watch!