The seventh running of the Kona Colville Connection took place from the tiny rural school at Colville on Saturday 8 March.  A big field with a strong international component rode in beautifully fine conditions with a light southerly � ideal for this type of riding.  Substantial rain in the days leading up to the event meant courses were soft and muddy in parts which led to generally slower times than in previous years.

On the marathon 72km course around the end of the peninsula, Kona factory rider Barry Wicks from USA was too strong for the mens field and won by a comfortable margin from Adrian Jackson of Australia and Scott Thorne from Hamilton.  The womens field saw ex World Cup Downhill champion Tracey Mosley from UK, also riding for Kona, showing good cross country skills in addition to her known downhill abilities to lead Carrie McLachlan of Auckland and Catherine Watson from Invercargill home.

Patrick Avery of Rotorua and Adrienne Hooper of Auckland won the rugged 40km race in slippery difficult conditions with Benjamin Reynolds of Waimauku and Diane Murray of New Plymouth winning the 24 km event.

visit www.colvilleconnection.co.nz