Sunflower Games 2013

Chris Finnigan

Daniel  Sheehan

John Finnigan

Elizabeth Finnigan

 

Elizabeth Finnigan finishing her first 10 KM Time Trial.  Tired!

John Finnigan wins the Sun Flower State Games by over a minute!

Elizbeth Finnigan takes second!

 

 

Late Night Under the Lights 7/10

Wow!  We had a terrific turn out last night for Late Night Under the Lights!  The weather was warm, but the riders were in great spirits.  Roger Harrison and Joe Porter did a terrific job setting up the course.  Paula Cole organized the entire event, ran registration, kept track of placing and coordinated all the awards and prizes.  We had a new volunteer: Elspeth Malcolm.  Elspeth jumped right in and helped run the registration with Paula Cole.  Thanks also to Dan Sheehan and Josh Stratton who set up and tore down the registration area.  

I was pleasantly surprised to see 53 children race.  The top three children in each category were given medals.  All children received a prize.  There will be trophies for the overall winner of the series.  At our final race. The next race will be on Wednesday evening, July 24th.  

The adult races were great.  Many of the racers were first timers.  Amanda Muller was very excited after her race.  She average 19.9 mph!  The adult series is specifically designed for training.  Riders learned several things about bike racing.  First - in bicycle racing (criteriums, circuits or road races) aerobars are not allowed.  Next junior racers require a special gear modification which is designed to protect their knees.  Race numbers are worn on the side of the back of a rider not on the front of the shirt.  Race licenses are required to race.  You can obtain a one day license or an annual on site.  A great aspect of this series is that time is taken to educate the riders.  Riders have the opportunity to apply lessons learned on the same night.  Each adult/junior racer races three separate races on the same course with the same group.  

 

Here are the results:

 

Ages 1-5

 

1.  Amelia Noris

2.  Seth Mathis

3.  Evelyn Todd

4.  Madeline Sheets

5.  Lucas Smith

6.  Cale Denney

7.  Sophie Holmes

8.  Brayden Sheumaker

9.  Mason Sheumaker

10. Leah Jordan

11.  Imogen Norris

12.  John Schmidtke

13.  Carolina Sol Smyth

14.  Ayron Hixson

15.  Dalton Zimmerman

 

Strider Category

1.  Toby Black

2.  Houston Sheets

3.  Cooper Schmidtke

 

Ages 6-8

1.  Luke Holmes

2.  Lim Baragary

3.  Sean Marco Smyth

4.  Isabella Ross

5.  Bill Ross

6.  Cooper Norris

7.  Chris Jordan

8.  Ella Todd

9.  Lucien Griffin

10.  Jason Conway

11.  Spencer Black

12. Sydney Campbell

13.  Leah Perrin Dye

14.  Braden Grifin

15.  Josie Denney

16.  Abigail Smedley

17.  Nathan Eddy

18. Curtis Smedley

19.  Brayton Zimmerman

20. Riley Frederickson

 

Ages 9-10

1.  Eli Todd

2.  Caden Baragary

3.  Elizabeth Finnigan

4. Michael Bert

5.  Jeremiah Yeaton

6.  Breanna Kouts

 

Ages 11-12

 

1.  John Finnigan

2.  Harry Ross

3.  Carl Waage

4.  Abby Rose Olsen

5. Junior Tolbert

6.  Alina Brady

 

Adult Category 4

1.  Mike Garvin 42 points

2.  Mark Ramsden 39 points

3. Carl Fischer 36 points

 

Adult Category 5

1.  Hernan Diaz 40 points

2.  Paul Bolduan 35 points

3.  Robert Kurtto 27 points

4.  Paul Muller 25 points

4.  Daniel Sheehan 25 points

4.  Mark Barnes 25 points

5.  Mike Daigh 17 points

6.  Dale Marrou 16 points

7.  Mike Miller 9 points

8.  Vince Matteo 6 points

 

Adult Women's Category 4

1.  Wendy Guilbeau

2.  Amanda Muller

 

Juniors

1.  John Finnegan 15 points

2.  Harry Ross 12 points

3.  Abby Rose Olsen 7 points

4.  Caden Bargary 6 points

5.  Elizabeth Finnegan 4 points

6.  Liam Bargary 1 point. 

Danielle Edwards

Abby Olsen

Mark Barnes in the Santa Fe Trails Team Kit

Carl Fischer is the next in Santa Fe Trails Team Kit

Hernan Diaz in the green    

Daniel Sheehan is the next in the Blue Jersey

Carl Fischer and Mike Garvin

Carl Fischer, Mike Garvin, Hernan Diaz, and Mark Ramsden

 

Late Night Under the Lights June 26

Superb training race last night!  Big thanks to all our volunteers, especially Roger (the Grand Poo Bah) Harrison, Joe Porter, Barb Sheehan, Paula and Bill Cole, Curtis Waite, James Castle and Dan Sheehan.  

 

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors: Kramer and Associates Accounting, Sis' Sweets, Mr. Goodcents of Leavenworth, and Harbor Lights Coffee House. Thanks to Pam Hall.  

Weather was warm, but clear and sunny.  All the children were in high spirits.  Although registration was scheduled for 6:15, we started signing kids up at 5:45.  Parents and children surrounded the registration area.  There was great excitement in the air.  

 

The first race were the children's 1-5.  Here's the results:

10 Dalton Zimmerman

9 Vivian Kidd

8 Ayron Hixson

7 Robert Kouts

6 Mason Shewmaker

5 Brayden Shewmaker

4 Cale Denney

3 Lukas Smith

2 Jack Whitford

1 Seth Mathis 

 

Strider Category

3 Oliver Whitford

2 Toby Black

1 Joseph Wilkin

 

Children's 6-8

11 Riley Fredrickson 

10 Sydney Campbell

9 Brayton Zimmerman

8 Raymond Wilken

7 Braden Griffen

6 Spencer Black

5 Leah Perrin Dye

4 Josie Denney

3 Aaron John Frisbie

2 Lucien Griffen

1 Liam Baragary

 

Children's 9-10

6 Danielle Edwards

5 Lilly Kidd

4 Sabastian Campbell

3 Elizabeth Finnegan

2.  Caden Baragary

1.  Alec Gonzalez

 

Children's 11-12

6. Jonathan Sanderson

5.  Adrian Kouts

4.  Alina Kitsenyak

3.  Carl Waage

2.  Abby Olsen

1.  John Finnegan

 

We really enjoyed the British Contingent that showed up for our adult races.  Here are the adult results:

 

Women's Category 4

2.  Jennifer Wilson 7 points

1.  Wendy Guilbeau 17 points

 

Juniors

1. Isaac Jacobs 19 points

 

Men's Category 4

2.  Carl Fischer 174 points

1.  Mike Garvin 176 points

 

Men's Category 5

9.  Dave Brad 3 points

8.  Mike Miller 8 points

7.  Shane Hildon 11 points

6. Daniel Sheehan 22 points

6.  Gareth Whysell 22 points

5.  Andy Simpson 27 points

4.  Alex Porter 34 points

4.  Mark Barnes 34 points

3.  Alex Ardussi 36 points

2.  Matt Woodeson 40 points

1.  Ryan Kestle 47 points

Late Night Under the Lights 5/29

Great races last night!  The weather appeared threatening; however we had no real rain or wind.  The kids raced first.  They were terrific!  

 

The 1-5 year olds raced one lap.  Big thanks to Mike Miller for leading all the kids races.  Here's there finish - 1.Jack Tucker, 2. Jack Whitford, 3.  Lukas Smith, 4.  Cale Denny, 5.  Dalton Zimmerman,  6.  Ayron Hkson.  

 

The 6-8 year olds raced two laps.  1.  Bella Ross, 2.  Billy Ross, 3.  John Thomas Tucker, 4. Brayton Zimmerman, 5.  Riley Fredrickson,

 

The 9-10 year olds raced three laps:  1.  Alec Gonzalez, 2.  Jeremiah Yeeton, 3. Morgan Hilden, 4. Marshall Bergen, 5.  Danielle Edwards, 6.  Emma Hilden.

 

The 11-12 year olds raced four laps:  1.  Harry Ross, 2.  Francis Sheehan, 3. Abby Olsen, 4.  Elizabeth Bert, 5.  Philip Sheehan, 6.  Miah Bergen

 

The adults raced as a single group, but were scored separately.  They raced three races - The Devil Takes Hindmost, The Win and Out, and The Four Lap Scratch race.  Here's how they finished:

 

Ladies Open

 

1.  Wendy Guilbeau

 

Men's Category 4

1. Spencer Wallace

2.  Armando Peralta

3.  Erica Haas ** (she elected to compete in this category

 

Men's Category 5

1.  Adam Wilcoxen

2.  Alex Ardussi (tied)

2.  Mike Miller (tied)

 

It was great to see everyone out racing in their team kits.  Thanks to Paula Cole, Roger Harrison, Joe Porter, and Barb Sheehan for their excellent work putting on the race.  Thanks to James Castle for the photographs.  Thanks to our great sponsors - Sis Sweets, Kramer and Associates Accounting, Mr Goodcents of Leavenworth, and Harbor Lights. 

Jesse Blancarte time trial in Gardner, KS

Jesse Blancarte time trial in Gardner, KS on Sunday, May 26. Alex Ardussi, Matt Hall, and Brendan Sheehan raced. The course was flat and smooth. Winds were strong behind us to start and in our face on the return. Great results by all three riders. Looking forward to out next time trials - Sunflower State Games in Topeka, State Time Trial Championships in Pittsburg, KS, and the return to this same course for the Power Flite Series every month this summer.

Wednesday night is our first "Late Night Under the Lights" Training Series at the Warren Middle School in Leavenworth. This is a super fun race which kicks off with free age group kids races and continues with adult races in a track racing format. Adults race in three races using fun track formats like "the Devil Takes Hindmost", "The Win and Out", and a "Four Lap Scratch Race". Come on out, race hard, get stronger and faster. 

Salina Road Race

Joseph Sheehan Road Race

Thanks to all our phenomenal volunteers who helped make the Joseph Sheehan Road Race a success.  

Thanks to Roger Harrison who worked tirelessly to mark the route with signs, paint, flags, zeppelins, and smoke grenades.  Okay.  Just kidding about the last two.  Well marked course by Roger Harrison.  

Thanks to Paula Cole who thought of every detail.  Even down to pinning all four pins on preregistered racers numbers.  Now that's detail!  Great job by Paula reacting to the changing course and the changing race start. 

Thanks to my wife Barb who managed to enter 100 preregisterants and 100 day of the race registrants in a timely, organized and efficient process.  Barb's superb work made the difference in making our race a smooth operation.

Thanks to Bill Cole, President of the Leavenworth Bicycle Club, who was the hole filler in the damn.  Let everyone know about the change in location?  He posted at the old one.  Someone didn't show?  He was there.  Something we forgot?  He was getting it.  Need to hang out and transport everything back to the shop?  He was the guy.    

Thanks to all our 42 volunteers! Thanks to the road guards who year after year go where they need to go and do what they need to do.  Thanks to our superb drivers who navigate the course flawlessly.  Thanks to all of you who took the initiative to check with us early and often about changes.  

Thanks to my employees who not only put in a lot of overtime so we can work on this event, but also take there day off to come out and help us.  Thanks Lamont!  Thanks Josh!

Thanks to Father Michael Munro for blessing all of our riders as they started the race.  


Thanks to the many riders who came out and raced.  I know there are competing events.  This year was our best turnout ever!  200 racers!  

Thanks to the City of Leavenworth, the County of Leavenworth, Leavenworth Parks and Recreation Director Julie Anderson, Atchison County and the City of Atchison for their tremendous support.  

Thanks to State Farm Insurance Ally Zeck and Country Club Bank on Delaware Street for their terrific sponsorship!

 

Fantastic turnout for our own team race here in Leavenworth Sunday!  

 

The race was an arduous course from Leavenworth to Atchison and back.  52 miles of hills and thrills.  The juniors raced 30 miles to Atchison.  Probably the hardest part of the course. 

 

John Finnegan won the 10-14.  Sedona Posch took second in the junior girls 10-14.  David French won the juniors 15-18.  Terrific job!

 

Erica Haas rode an aggressive race. Leading from the front.  She took third place in the women's category 1,2,3.

 

The men's category 4 had a super team.  Sean Smith, just one week back from deployment to Afghanistan lead the team fours with a 10th place finish!  Mark Ramsden finished 15th after winning the individual time trial Saturday.  Art Mathisen finished 37th.  Armando Peralta finished 41st.  

 

The men's category 5 had an equally superb representation.  Paul Bolduan was 17th. Adam Willcoxson was18th.  James Lee continued his winning ways finishing 21st.  Alex Ardussi was 26th. Doug Harding finished 28th.  Matt Doolan finished 30th.  Matt Hall finished 36th. Tim Crane finished 39th.  Bill Wood finished his first race ever in 45th!  

 

Master's category 50-59 is an open race.  This mean's any category can race.  Carl Fischer jumped in with this daunting field and finished 21st.  

 

 Matt Hall

 

 

Bruce Edwards Memorial Time Trial

TT Tips and Results

Results: April 12th
Gray skies and temps hovering around 40 made for a chilly TT season opener. Seventeen hardy souls came out to brave the elements, including three juniors. Mike Smithmier, who is on injured reserve, also came out for the event. Thank you to Patrick Mitchell for helping with tonight's race. Congrats to Scott Stevens for tonight's fastest time! 

13:53    Scott Stevens
14:05    Doug Obershaw
14:50    Dean Parker
15:24    Brendan Sheehan
15:27    Isaac Jonas    
15:47    Lane Johnson
15:49    Shawn Morelli
15:58    Jandle Johnson
16:03    Paul Bolduan
16:18    Geraldo Peralta
16:30    Matthew Hall
17:09    Donavon Hottman
17:43    Gene Lamb
18:11    Tim Crane
18:29    Art Berger
22.03    Steve DelVecchio
24:26    Seth Wisdom  

Spring Fling 5

Finally beautiful weather (mostly) for the Spring Fling Criterium in Lawrence.  Not surprisingly, this was the biggest turn out of riders so far this season.  

 

We started the race with the Men's Masters Category.  Due to the recent rainfall some debris had washed onto the course and several riders received flat tires in turn 3.  Mark Ramsden, and Art Mathisen remained in the field.  Art attacked the field several times taking a sprint.  Towards the end of the race he attacked the field and no one chased.  Art won a prime sprint and the finishing sprint.  Mark finished with the leaders.

 

In the ladies category 4 Anita Gonzalez and Melissa Holstead raced.  Melissa was racing on a loaner wheelset - Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLs.  Missy had an average speed over two miles faster than previous races.  She was very aggressive in the corners as well.  

 

Next was the juniors 10 to 12 years old.  John Finnegan and Francis Sheehan raced for us.  Most of the race John lead the field.  Francis waited until the last straight away to sprint and win the race.  Santa Fe Trails swept the series - First Place - John Finnegan, Second Place - Abby Olsen, Third Place - Francis Sheehan. 

 

Next was the 4/5 men.  Again we had more riders.  Again the pace was faster.  Erica Haas rode for our team as well as Adam Wilcoxon, Armando Peralta and Brendan Sheehan.  

 

Erica Haas turned around and raced the ladies category 3/4 race.  She attacked early and often taking third overall.  

 

John Finnegan and Francis Sheehan raced again in the juniors 12-18.  They raced hard.

 

Finally the last race of the day was the men's category five.  Faster.  More crowded.  James Lee, Matt Doolan, Adam Wilcoxon, Gene Lamb, John Pauley all raced.  No one placed.  Jim Lee took Fifth in the series overall.  

 

We are looking forward to our next races: Thursday evening April 11 - the Power Flite 10 KM Time Trial in Gardner, Kansas.  Sunday, April 14th the Bazaar Road Race near Emporia, KS.  

 

Thanks to Roger Harrison for his support and photographs.  

Spring Fling Criterium #4

Lawrence Kansas on Saturday, March 23.  Cold.  37 degrees.  Numbers have dropped.  Many of our teammates are on Spring Break.  The sky was overcast.  The course looked grey. 

Mark Ramsden and I arrived early this week.  Last week's high pace race still fresh in our minds.  We selected a good site for our tent.  Used the brick wall to help block the cold winds.  No heater today - Roger Harrison was supporting the God's Country Duathlon. 

We had a great 45 minute warmup. No more teammates arrived.  Mark and I went to the start of the men's masters.  Same fast guys as last week.  All the races at this series are "points races".   To get any place at all, you have to get points. You only get points on sprint laps or the final.  We knew we had to be aggressive.  Mark and I were at the back of the field as they rang the bell for the first sprint.  One lap to go.  He could see me looking around to find a way to the front.  Mark followed.  I made it to the front, but soon was tired.  Mark came around to take the lead.  He did a tremendous pull which allowed me to recover and increased our lead on the field.  I survived to take fourth place (points) in the sprint.  We both continued to ride well challenging the finish, but outside the points. 

Next race was the ladies.  Missy Holstead was our only lady racer.  She was in high spirits.  Her family was visiting and watching her race for the first time.  She did not disappoint.  Missy placed fifth in the women's category 4.  Great job! 

John Finnegan was our only junior racer this week.  He was first place in the junior 10 to 12 and sixth place in the juniors 12-18.  Great job John! 

Finally the men's category 5 race.  These four guys have made it to every race - Mike Miller, Bill Cole, Matt Doolan and Jim Lee.  If you remember Saturday afternoon at 3 PM, you know the snow had started.  The wind was blustery and the temperature had dropped about 6 degrees.  Bill rode over to me after his warmup to tell me "this is nuts!".  The men's category five race started quickly.  To make things even more fun, the promoter added an additional lap this week.  The field strung out.   Matt and Jim stayed with the lead group.  Matt made an attack on what was supposed to be the sprint lap - no bell rang.  Jim attacked on lap 4 - bell lap.  Jim won the sprint!  By the final lap only three leaders remained.  Jim was with them, taking third place.  Great job by all these guys!  Snow criterium! 

Although the last four races have been epic, we look forward to racing in warmer conditions.  Next Satuday is the fifth and final spring fling criterium. 

Spring Fling Criterium Series

Well we thought it might be warm....but it wasn't.  Temperature was about 37 degrees when we arrived at Clinton Lake State Park on Saturday.  The winds were super strong hitting you in the face as you rode down the finishing straight.  When we arrived, Adam, Armando, Blake and I set up the tent, trainers, chairs, etc.  That was a potential error.  Our efforts only afforded us about a 10 minute warm-up.  Each week the masters have gradually turned the pace up during the race.  The speeds were high, but not intolerable at first.  That all changed Saturday.  New faces who had not raced appeared at the start.  The hard winds enticed riders to attack.  Knowing they could get a gap.  Our teammate, Art Mathisen was one of those riders he launched one of a series of attacks early on in the race.  Mark Ramsden was able to make the move.  The rest of us were unable to.

The next race was the ladies' category 4 race.  Anita Gonzalez was our only racer and she garnered points!  It helps to be persistent.  Anita has been.  Congratulations! 

Next the juniors raced.  Abby Olsen, and John Finnegan raced.  They toughed out the cold and rode well.  John was second and Abby was third.  John raced in the 12 to 18 year old juniors as well on Saturday.  

The men raced again in the category 4/5 race.  No points were made by anyone; however all of us stayed with the field and several of us challenged the final sprint.  Evidently we were properly warmed up by this time.  Racers included Armando Peralta, Adam Wilcoxen, Zach Bowen, and myself.  

Finally the men's category five field.  Mike Miller, Jim Lee, Matt Doolan, and Bill Cole raced.  No report on their results.

Sunday was the final race of the Lake Perry Series.  Shawn Morelli raced and won the entire series for the women's open.  She also won King of the Mountains.  Outstanding job in cold and windy conditions.  

Thanks to Roger Harrison for supplying our heater and cheering us on!