Bevin, Buchanan triumph at Criterium National Championships

Patrick Bevin and Rushlee Buchanan have won their respective open men’s and women’s races at the 2014 Criterium National Championship held in Takapuna’s CBD on Friday evening.

Bevin (Taupo) was part of a three-strong breakaway with eight minutes to go that also included last year’s winner, Mike Northey and under-23 rider Dion Smith, who competed for New Zealand in the world championships this year.

In a sprint finish, Bevin, part of the New Zealand team at this year's Commonwealth Games, had enough legs to hold off Northey, who claimed second, and Smith, who claimed third.

“I’m over the moon - it’s an amazing feeling to win with such a strong field," said a delighted Bevin.

In the open women’s race, New Zealand endurance track team member Buchanan edged out team-mate Lauren Ellis, with last year’s champion, Emily Collins finishing third.

One of the strongest ever fields had gathered for the event.

The men’s category included Olympic Games medallists Marc Ryan and Westley Gough, Commonwealth Games mountain bike medallist Sam Gaze, 2013 UCI Omnium World Champion Aaron Gate and last year’s winner, Northey.

The women’s field included last year’s champion Collins, who competed in the road race at the Commonwealth Games, along with Buchanan, Ellis, Jaime Nielsen, Racquel Sheath and Georgia Williams - all members of the New Zealand track endurance team that recently competed in the UCI Track World Cup in Mexico.

In earlier races, outstanding Counties Manukau teenager Bradley Leitch took out the allcomers race, backing up from his U17 boys victory last year, while national representative Harry Waine, from the local Takapuna Grammar,  prevailed in the Under 17 boys race and Georgia Danford from St Marys College, won the Under 17 girls race.


Patrick Bevin on his way to victory in the open men’s race.  Credit: Darryl Carey.

Results:
Open men: Patrick Bevin, 1; Mike Northey, 2; Dion Smith, 3.
Open women: Rushlee Buchanan, 1; Lauren Ellis, 2; Emily Collins, 3.
Allcomers: Bradley Leitch, 1; Laurence Kerby, 2; Joshua Kuysten, 3.
U17 boys: Harry Waine, 1; Jacob Kench, 2; Liam Cappel, 3.
U17 girls: Georgia Danford, 1; Shaane Fulton, 2; Rebecca Gumbley, 3.