Northern Beaches Cycling Club president Chris Howard winning the hill climb in the West Coast Masters Cycling Council road race.
Camera IconNorthern Beaches Cycling Club president Chris Howard winning the hill climb in the West Coast Masters Cycling Council road race. Credit: Supplied/Rebecca Schultz

Rider proves class in hard race

Lucy JarvisWanneroo Times

NORTHERN Beaches Cycling Club (NBCC) member Rachel Hippolyte, has had a meteoric rise in competitive cycling.

President Chris Howard said Hippolyte had been recovering from serious injury and only recently returned to racing in the Eilte A grade.

“Competing in the Midland 100 – one of the toughest of road races for its climbs through the hills of Gidgegannup – Hippolyte took second place from an elite field,” he said.

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“This was a just reward for a dedication to training and willingness to race hard.”

Howard said, as a fledgling Mountain Biking Australia Club, NBCC was able to get onto the podium at round 1 of the WA Mountain Bike Association State Series held at Marinup.

“Richard Reeves claimed second in E grade and James Papadopoff placed third in under 17s,” he said.

“James’s father, Mark Papadopoff, applied some of his road racing tactics to successfully duel with another rider to win the D grade event.”

In the West Coast Masters Cycling Council road race held at Mount Helena, NBCC also had the opportunity to secure top team title in the summer series.

“NBCC proved to be in the mix in almost every grade with Edward Rose third in E grade, Nick Vroomans, fifth and John Hanson seventh in C grade and Justin Schultz fifth in B Grade,” Howard said.

“The club’s rivalry with second-placed Team Brooks was played out in the D grade race.”

The president said in the first of two 20km laps, three Team Brooks riders broke away from the field with the pairing of Hisayo Thornton and himself from NBCC.

In the hill climb finish, Howard won the sprint with Thornton finishing fourth.

“The combined results assure its third consecutive top team award with NBCC scoring 444 points to Team Brooks 420 and MAN Riders Choice 362,” Howard said.

“Justin Schultz took the highest overall individual points for a club member, finishing sixth overall.

“The club owes its success to its grassroots, social riders base, high participation rate, and supportive team spirit.”

The winter road series will start on April 30. New and beginner riders are always welcome.