staff reporter
The B.C. cyclo-cross season wrapped up last weekend with the B.C. Cup Series final in South Surrey, a week after Maple Ridge’s Local Ride Racing team picked up a provincial championship title and medals in North Vancouver.
“It’s been a fantastic season for Local Ride Racing,” said Barry Lyster, team manager and Local Ride Bike Shop owner. “The squad did a great job of representing its sponsors and the shop all over B.C. and the Pacific Northwest and finished the season on a high note with podiums and Championship titles.”
Maggie Coles-Lyster of Maple Ridge won the U-17 women’s B.C. Championship title on Nov. 27, while Local Ride Racing teammate Sandra Walter took second place in the open women’s competition, trailing winner Jean Ann Berkenpas of Maple Ridge by seconds.
“It was a fun battle,” said Berkenpas.
Maple Ridge’s Mike Berkenpas raced to a respectable 11th-place finish in the elite men’s competition, with teammate Richard Machhein finishing 14th in his first ever elite contest. Local Ride Racing young gun Pete Whalen of Pitt Meadows took the sixth spot in the U-17 men’s race.
At the B.C. Cup Series final on Saturday, Coles-Lyster and Jean Ann Berkenpas repeated with victorious performances, taking home the blue and white series champion jersey in their respective categories.
“My race was awesome,” said 12-year-old Coles-Lyster. “I’m really happy I won the B.C. Championship and B.C. Cup jerseys this year.”
Whalen earned himself a jersey of his own when he took the series victory in the U-17 men’s category. Mike Berkenpas secured second place in the B.C. Cup in the elite men’s field after finishing fourth in the final competition.
Local Ride Racing’s Brett Wakefield of Maple Ridge and teammate Richard Machhein finished second and sixth, respectively, in the Category 3/4 men’s race, while Ryan Newsome finished sixth in the Master 3/4 men’s category. Paul Craig of Pitt Meadows was 27th.
