Kelowna riders dominate podium in annual Hard Knox cyclocross races

| September 13, 2016 in Cycling

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Northern visitors finished one-two in the main event at the sixth annual School of Hard Knox cyclocross races, but Kelowna riders dominated the parade to the podium on Sunday.

Kellen Viznaugh of Revelstoke led the field of elite men over the  2.26-kilometre course at the foot of Knox Mountain, with Vernon’s Sean Williams finishing second and Dean Broomham of Kelowna covering the eight laps in third place.

Photo Gallery (169 photos) on KelownaNow's Facebook page

For Williams, it was his second podium finish in the B.C. Interior Cyclocross Series, having won the first event of the season at Big White (Cyclepath Cycle and Snow) earlier this month. Broomham was runner up in opening race.

Kelowna’s Vanessa Tilson was first among the elite women at Hard Knox while Marta Green, last year’s winner, finished second.

The Rubuliak family of Kelowna made a habit of first-place finishes. Dad Chris Rubuliak rode, jumped and ran to top spot in the master men’s (40-plus) category; mom, Jenni, won the master women’s race; and sons Jacob and Noah claimed first place in the junior elite and junior U13 divisions respectively.

In all, 63 racers in the B.C. series categories and 30 children took part in the Hard Knox event organized by Jay Darby and Darrin Caruso at Chainline Cycle.

The series continues on Saturday in Vernon with the Sizzle at Sovereign being held at the Sovereign Lake Cross Country Ski Area.  Racing goes from 10 a.m. to about 12:30 p.m. On Sunday, The Burn In Vernon event will be held at the Vernon Cadet Academy at same starting times as Saturday.

Cyclocross, with origins in Belgium and Switzerland in the early 1900s, is run on pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles, requiring riders to dismount quickly, carry the bike while navigating the obstructions, and remount.

Complete  B.C. Interior Cyclocross Series schedule

Complete Podium Finishers at School of Hard Knox:

Elite Men

1st - Kellen Viznaugh - Revelstoke

2nd - Sean Williams - Vernon

3rd - Dean Broomham - Kelowna

Elite Women

1st - Vanessa Tilson - Kelowna

2nd - Marta Green - Vernon

Junior Elite

1st - Jacob Rubuliak - Kelowna

2nd - Tamatea Westby - Kelowna

Masters Men (40+)

1st - Chris Rubuliak - Kelowna

2nd - Lance Huber - Kelowna

3rd - Jaegan Smith - Kelowna

Masters Women (40+)

1st - Jenni Rubuliak - Kelowna

2nd - Tanya Pauls - Kelowna

3rd - Cindy Pelletier - Silver Star

Intermediate Men

1st - Ryan Hayward - Kelowna

2nd - Brent Carmichael - Kelowna

3rd - Steve Gaucher - Kelowna

Intermediate Women

1st - Luara Medcalf - Vernon

Novice Men

1st - Dan Holmes - Revelstoke

2nd - Peter Rotheisler - Kelowna

3rd - Chris Andruchow - Kelowna

Novice Women

1st - Carmelle Guidi-Swan - Kelowna

2nd - Ashlee Hignell - Kelowna

3rd - Maria Soderlund - Kelowna

Single-Speed Men

1st - Craig Morton - Kelowna

2nd - Shawn Audette - Kelowna

Junior - U15

1st - Erik Haaheim - Kelowna

2nd - Brody Wright - Kelowna

3rd - Dylan Baliski - Kelowna

Junior - U13

1st - Noah Rubuliak - Kelowna

2nd - Rhett Bates - Kelowna

3rd - Max Wright - Kelowna

Photo Gallery (169 photos) on KelownaNow's Facebook page

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