Young cyclists took centre stage at the Whakatāne Cycling Club’s annual prizegiving on Saturday evening, after a highly successful season.

The headline award – Most Outstanding Rider for 2025/26 – went to Lilly Collombet, whose achievements this year have been exceptional.

Now based in Belgium and racing for the Avia Rudyco Junior Team, Lilly has lined up in the junior versions of some of Europe’s most iconic races, including Liège-Bastogne-Liège (91 kilometres), In Flanders Fields (71km) on the following day, and the Ronde van Vlaanderen (7km). Earlier in the season she finished seventh in the U19 Elite Road National Championship, and fifth in the U19 Elite Time Trial Championships. She is due to return home at the end of the northern summer.

The Most Improved Young Rider award went to Dylan Jackson, selected from a group of newcomers who began the season as complete novices and are now racing competitively across several club grades.

The award could easily have gone to others in his family, all of whom have made significant gains this year.

Another junior, Jacques Collombet, claimed the Most Aggressive Rider trophy, recognised for his uncompromising racing style.

His courageous ride in the U19 Elite Road National Championships typified his determination when he stayed with the leading bunch until the final push, only to crash into another rider who came down right in front of him.

Senior rider Jeremy Anderson collected the trophy for most road points, a particularly meritorious achievement given the injury challenges he has faced throughout the season.

The evening also provided an opportunity to acknowledge Dave Wright’s significant contribution as president. Wright was presented with a handcrafted plaque in recognition of his service.

Earlier that day, before the celebrations began, the final race before the winter break took place on the pan flat Awahou and back course. Race director Wendy Boonen set out a scratch race, beginning with a neutralised 10km ridden at a brisk 30kmh. When the flag dropped, the pace jumped immediately to around 40kmh.

Scratch races are attritional by nature. Riders fight to hold the wheels of the fastest in the bunch, while those on the front periodically surge to thin out the field. Each acceleration sees one or two riders lose contact, watching the group slip away with the sinking realisation that their race is effectively over.

At the front, Jacques Collombet proved the strongest, crossing the line ahead of two other aggressive riders, Donovan Jackson and Lorien Hickson.

Young Ethan Jackson rode out of his skin, managing to hang on right until the final sprint. The next group sprinting for the line was led home by an in- form Dean Sisson, followed by Antoine Collombet and Tania Jones.

Further back, Jason Boonen and Coenie Hoffman paired for the ride home. Malcolm Harison, Matt Fredericksen and Albie Hulse finished next, followed closely by David Keown, Nolene Jackson, Dylan Jackson and Wendy Boonen.

The club now takes a short break from racing. The next event starts at 1pm on July 25 from Te Kura o Te Paroa. Full details are available at www.whakatanecycleclub.org