MIVA BOXWOOD CRITERIUMS 120626

Youth Event: 16 laps, 31.6km  

Six starters for this second youth event. All from Courtenay/Comox. There were two girls and four boys so the decision was made to award separate points for each group. For the first couple of laps, the pack stayed together and then Eli Simcoe Metcalfe, CVCC and Damian Parlee, Cycle University quickly established a twenty second gap and that's the way it stayed for the balance of the race, with the gap increasing steadily. The prime was taken by Eli and then the lead duo settled down to maintain their lead. The four person chase group certainly had the horsepower to reel in the two leaders but seemed conrent to watch each other. After four laps, Jane Harmsworth, Cycle University, dropped off the chase group. At the line, it was Eli, with Damian in second place, seven seconds back. The “bunch” spritn for third was taken by James Grant, with Mark Grant and Jessica Reynolds finishing in the same time. Jane rolled in just over a lap down, having ridden most of the race on her own.

Main Event: 50 minutes plus 5 laps. 37Km

Fourteen riders started andthere was little action until the first prime, which was won by Paul Thompson from Ray Wagner. These two then stayed away for the next four laps but were pulled in just before the second prime at sixteen laps. This was won by junior, Andrew Grant, Cycle University, from Doug Merrick, CVCC and Ian Smith, MIVA. In the next couple of laps laps, a couple of different groups tried to establish a break. First, it was Ray Wagner, Ron Hewitson and Paul Thompson. Next, Ron and Paul dropped back and Ray was joined by Ian Smith and Mike Sevcov. This trio was joined by Doug Merrick and this time the attempt was successful. Over the next ten laps, the quartette worked well together and gained about three seconds per lap. With five laps to go, Merrick was almost dropped but found reserves somewhere and hung on until the end. At the line it was Ian Smith winning easily, with Ray Wagner and Doug Merrick clocking the same time and Master C rider Mike Sevcov coasting in at five seconds. The bunch sprintfor fifth, at twenty-two seconds, was won by Iain Hay from Kyle Waring and junior, Andrew Grant