North Canterbury News: March 28, 2024

SPORT
The North Canterbury News, March 28, 2024
Cycling challenge for Kaiapoi skow project
By JOHN COSGROVE
Each morning for afortnight, Kaiapoi
cyclist Bruce Milsom rose, donned his one
set of riding clothes and prepared his tired
63­year­old body for more hours in the
saddle as he cycled 1700kms along the
length of the South Island.
Cycling from Queen Charlotte Sound to
Milford Sound as part of the Sounds 2
Sounds (S2S) challenge, was Bruce
Milsom’s way to help fundraise for a
historical boat renovation.
The Alwyn GScow restoration project
will benefit from Bruce’s endeavours by
more than $1700, and he says he would
happily do it again.
His days were at times not leisurely
rides through scenic vistas —some days
he battled headwinds and cold rain for
hours across barren windswept
landscapes in Central Otago, or coped with
his bike rattling to pieces on coarse back
roads, or undertaking 30 river crossings in
aday.
But most days were thankfully fine, and
once he set off at the tail end of the pack,
Bruce found it to be avery pleasant
experience.
‘‘I had only ridden afew one­daylongdistance
events of around 60kms, so this
Journey’s end ... Kaiapoi cyclist Bruce
Milsom in front of the benefactor of his
fundraising marathon ride ­The Alwyn G
Scow restoration project. PHOTO: JOHN COSGROVE
was something different. Iknew Iwasn’t
going to be racing up front so Ielected to
start at the back of the pack of 260 riders
taking part in the challenge.’’
The self­supported riders' departures
were spread out over aweek. The 100
faster ones headed away first then days
NORTH CANTERBURY GOLF RESULTS
later the next 100 and finally the last 60
including Bruce.
This was to ease the pressure on
accommodations along the trail and not
have any overcrowding on the narrow
sections of the tracks.
Bruce says he was quickly on his own,
but after acouple of days he teamed up
with another rider, adoctor, and they
travelled together the rest of the way.
The English­born building surveyor says
he didn’t start riding until2017 when he
was 57.
‘‘A friend got me riding, but he went
home to the UK and Ialmost didn’t carry
on, however, another friend got me
interested in longer distance riding. I
thought Iwould be so slow at it but on my
first Bridge­to­Bridge race Ifinished with
110 other competitors behind me.’’
Coincidently when Bruce checked into
amotel on the Marlborough leg of the S2S
he ran into his friend from the UK who
was pleased to see him still riding.
‘‘It was great to see him again after so
many years, it was all part of the fun of the
S2S.’’
Bruce says that the S2S is not arace. It
is all about the experience and it had a
great social side.
‘‘I would rise at 6am each day. Stretch
21
and warm up the body, ride for two hours
then break for lunch, usually with other
riders in acafe somewhere. Then ride for
another two to four hours to get to amotel,
or to one of my many friend's houses
scattered along the way. Rest up and do it
all again the next day.’’
‘‘It’s avery satisfying ride, you can go as
slow as you want –some are still on it
today, and it’s always nice to know there
are people behind you who can help if you
need it.’’
Bruce’s advice to aspiring entrants in
next year's challenge is:
1) Don't over­stretch yourself. Keep each
day well within your capabilities,
particularly the first few days.
2) Take regular breaks. ‘‘Typically I
stopped for about 15 minutes at about 2
hourly intervals, plus photo stops and
short stops.’’
3) Just do it! Even if you think you are
not ready (like myself) so take longer, and
do shorter rides.
‘‘Even if you only ride 50kms per day you
will still get there. If some hills are too
steep, then walk up.
‘‘It takes alot less effort to get off and
walk up than it does to ride up.
‘‘So don't burn out trying to be ahero, get
off and walk up.’’
Waimakariri Gorge Golf
Rose Bowl ­Stablefords
18 Holes:LScott ­42, WMehrtens ­40, M
Te Awa –40, LSteele –40, NRobertson ­
38.
Nearest to Pin –No4for 2–LSteele; No
8for 1–JPottinger; No 11 for 2–J
Pottinger; No 17 for 1–KBush.
LongestPutt –No9–SKing; Two’s –J
Pottinger.
9Holes: RRoy ­23. Nearest to Pin –No8
for 1–FWright.
Amberley Golf
Champions 1st Qualification round
Stroke: RHack 64, RDenby 66, R
Turnbull 68, NReeves 68, SDalkie 68, D
Flewellen 69, GWilliams 69, HMurray 69,
J Yates 70, WVan Zuylen 70, GMurray 70,
RAtwill 70.
Excel Design Build Longest Putt: J Yates.
Mid Week Mens: BLogan 41, BGill 39, R
Keith 38, DFlewellen 37, GMurray 37.
Longest Putt: GHopping.
Mid Week Women: KPercy 69. Longest
Putt: J Brown.
9Holers: DGoodman 31, J Bourne 31, C
Brown 32.
LGU winner: CBrown 32.
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