The Stratford Cycling Club held the Felines on Frankley sponsored Vincent Cup on Sunday, from Stratford to the top of Strathmore Saddle and return.

The front bunch of E and F Grades riders worked well together until Frank Fast Hofmans attacked on Sangsters Hill and soloed to the finish to win by 30sec from Trevor Dalton, Brendon Metcalfe and Rob Gedye in 1.24.30.   The A and B Scratch bunch caught the C and D bunch 4km from home, with Mel Titter showing good form to take fastest time in 1.14.21 from Greg Marfell.  Hofmans said after the race it was a do or die effort from Sangsters Hill, after being caught metres from the line in his last club race.

The next club race is the Aspire Travel Mini Tour to be held over 3 Stages from Midhurst on Sunday 13 May.

The Mitchell Cycles sponsored Aaron Taylor Cup from Stratford to Whangamomona was held in hot conditions on Sunday.  Gary Bradley showed great climbing form to ride away from his fellow co markers on the Whanga Saddle to win in 1.47.25.  Andrew Fraser out sprinted Dave Olsen and John Larkin for the minor placings.   Gregory Marfell was 5th across the line and also recorded fastest time in 1.30.51 for the 64km.  Mel Titter was 6th and 2nd fastest in 1.31.03 with Jordan Murray 3rd fastest.

The Stratford Cycling Club held the first Interclub Race for the season.   The O2 Project sponsored Walker Shield was run over 52km around the Huiroa Block.  The race was run as a Graded event, with the 15 strong C Grade sprinting for the win.  New Plymouth rider Peter Handcock showed good sprinting form to head off Ernest Bloom and Peter Scrafft in a time of 1.19.51.  Denay Cottam won the A Grade from Tony Brownrigg in 1.20.54.  Anthony Visser finished 30 sec in front of Paul Roe and Malcolm Smith in 1.21.05 to win the B Grade.  Andrew Fraser won the D Grade in another sprint finish from Tony Kendall and Gary Bradley in 1.26.07.  Rob Gedye held of Janice McCullum for the win in E Grade in 1.34.56, with Frank Hofmans in third.  Shane Peters outlasted Peter Cox to win F Grade in 1.42.12.

Next week is the Mitchell Cycles sponsored Aaron Taylor Interclub Race starting in Stratford and finishing in Whangamomona.  Race starts at 10am on Sunday (19 Feb).  The Fun Ride starts at 9am.

The Stratford Cycling Club held its first club race of the year with the Pukengahu Trust sponsored Hodson Shield around the Pukengahu Block.

Showing good early season form, Dean Ashcroft powered up Bird Hill to the finish ahead of co marker Dave Taylor and front marker Frank "Fast" Hofmans.  Creena Thomason road an almost perfect race only to be caught on the up hill finish to take 5th place.  Fastest time went to Greg Marfell in 60.43 from Mel Titter.  Scratch rode through the Break bunch on the second to last hill, with Blair Cox and Paul Roe finishing the best of the Break group.

Next week is the O2 Project sponsored Walker Shield Interclub Race around the 54km Huiroa Block.

Stratford Cycling Club held its last race of the season with a 2 Stage Mini Tour.  The first stage finished at the Stratford Mountain Gates splitting the field, with Greg Marfell winning from Anthony Visser (42 seconds back), and Brohn Torckler (3min 52sec down).

The second stage was a 9km Time Trial from the Mountain Gates down Prembroke Road.  Brohn Torckler showed his time trialing power to record a record time of 9min 6sec (close to an average of 60kph).  Anthony Visser was second in 9min 37sec, and Greg Marfell third in 9min 41sec.