Brad Evans comfortably won the category one race with unrelenting attacks over the five laps, whittling the field down to a group of three and finally powering away in the final lap for a solo ride to the line.
Ross Gamble and Pete Oakden broke away from category two in the first lap and steadily increased their lead, while a small category three field (four laps) stayed together, with Wayne Green enjoying his first win in a bunch sprint.
Fresh from the Tour of Southland and Oceania track championships, Evans was the driving force of the major race.
His first attack came on lap one, but he was reeled in on the downward leg along Woodside Rd. It was not long before the next attack came and this time a bunch of six got away from the field.
Not satisfied with this, Evans continued to attack. With each passing lap the lead group dwindled as Paul Whitly, Paul Gough and Shane Melrose dropped off the chase, leaving Andy Connelly and Dave Cormack holding on to Evans' wheel.
A decisive final attack by Evans came on the back straight into the head wind. Connelly and Cormack dug deep but were not able to stay with Evans, who comfortably completed the 50km course in 1hr 15min 32sec. Connelly sprinted away from Cormack just before the line to take second.
In category two, seasoned racers Gamble and Oakden bolted on the first of five laps to get a break on the field.
A somewhat disorganised chase worked to their advantage and helped them steadily increase their lead. The rest of the field began to break up as the wind and the chase took its toll.
However, a determined bunch of Steve Green, Elyse Fraser, Chris Ross and Steve Grant worked well together for several laps and determinedly kept up the chase until they too broke up in the final lap.
It was a gentlemanly sprint for the line between Gamble and Oakden with both acknowledging the hard work of the other until Oakden almost stopped on the line ensuring the honours went to Gamble in 1hr 23min 19sec.
Only five riders in category three ensured there was little shelter from the wind. The early loss of Sean McLanigan meant even harder work for the remaining four of Jan Brosnahan, Tom Campbell, Shaun Scott and Green.
With no-one able to get away it came down to a bunch sprint.
Brosnahan led the bunch into the finish but Green timed his run well to take the honours in 57min 45sec.
