The Kevin Crook Memorial Race for women produced one of the closest finishes in the event’s history, with the result hanging in the balance until the final metres.

Kevin Crook was an outstanding sportsman, long-time club member and a strong supporter of women’s cycling, and this annual race held in his honour reflects his legacy.

The 19-kilometre event is run as a handicap race with riders starting at timed intervals. A light northerly wind meant a slight headwind on the return leg, adding an extra challenge for those chasing from behind.

Tania Jones, racing off scratch, set out six minutes after the limit riders.

At the front, Rachael Hopkins made her intentions clear from the start, quickly dropping Liz White and establishing a commanding lead.

She still held that advantage approaching the Selwyn Road turn with 5km to go, but an unfortunate wrong turn cost her valuable time and opened the door for the chasers.

Behind her, Jones was in hot pursuit and, by the time the race reached Selwyn Road, she had both previous trophy winner Nicola Klein and Noelene Jackson in sight.

Jones reeled Klein in swiftly, but Jackson was riding strongly and maintaining a determined lead as the finish line approached.

With the trophy almost within Jackson’s grasp, Jones launched a final, committed chase.

In a dramatic closing surge, and with only metres remaining, Jones crossed the line first to claim the Kevin Crook Memorial Trophy.

It was arguably the closest finish the race has ever seen, and despite starting with a six-minute handicap, Jones’ victory underlined her excellent form and the substantial training kilometres she has clearly been putting in recently.

In other racing, Monday’s Thornton event continues to attract new and returning riders.

Competitors welcomed long-time club members Corrie and Donna Smit back after a lengthy absence, along with Rex Humpherson, who has lost none of his trademark strength.

For the first time, the D grade was the largest starting bunch.

Nine riders set off in the bunch, into a stiff southwesterly, but by the first turn the group had thinned to four: Andrew Ross, Ethan Jackson, Mark Birks and Albie Hulse.

Ross coached the group into taking short turns, helping them maintain momentum and keeping them clear until just four kilometres from the finish, when the combined B and C-grade bunch swept past. Birks tried to latch on, but the pace proved too sharp.

The C-grade riders had earlier managed to stay with the storming B grade when they surged past, led by the powerful trio of Jeremy Anderson, Phil McIlroy Bisley and Donovan Jackson, who eventually took line honours in that order.

In the C-grade contest behind them, Neil Jones rode an excellent race – even surviving a brief excursion across the grass – to finish ahead of Coennie Hoffmann and Finn Shilton.

And lastly, it is great to see Wendy Boonen managing her return after injury by putting Jason Boonen on the front of their tandem and joining the racing.

Upcoming races start at 6pm sharp: Monday’s race begins outside Thornton School, and Thursday’s event is the Brian Fahey Hill Climb Championships, starting from Awakaponga Hall at the corner of Braemar and Caverhill roads.