Go Jope

Cyclist looses championship to help fellow racer - Fiji Sun 22 Sept 2009

A favourite to win the Fiji SUN National Cycling Championship Series and up coming Tour of Fiji may have put himself out of contention after stopping to help another competitor.

Jope Tikotani is one of best cyclists in Fiji. After losing time to punctures in the last two races he was slowly clawing his way back up the table to be in with a chance of regaining the top spot.

If the final few kilometers of Sunday's Rooster Race, a 150km cycle race from Suva to Korovisilou and back, veteran cyclist Yee Wah Sing had crippling cramps. Tikotani came across Yee wracked in pain and he helped the fellow cyclist to the side of the road.

"Jope dragged me from the middle of road where I fell - with me still clipped on to the bike and stayed with me for about 10 minutes. He tried to get me back on the bike to complete the race and only left after he arranged for emergency rescue." Said Yee

"I also appreciate the many motorists who stopped to see whether they could help. One lady even did a U-turn and came around to see if she could take me to get treated. It was only cramps but it was in every muscle from my toes to my waist and it was terribly painful. He added.

President of Cycling Fiji, Dom Sansom, said of Tikotani. "He put his fellow cyclist wellbeing before his own glory. This is common in cycling as cyclists from opposing teams will often help each other while racing. Jope had a great chance of winning the championship but the time he lost helping Wah puts him a long way behind. But, he has great heart and if anyone can make a comeback, he can.

Tikotani was modest about incident. "I saw Wah as his legs seized. It's one of those things that happens in cycling. Normally you can work your way through the pain but this was bad. I helped him unclip his shoes from his bike and when the cramps didn't go away I called the race director and he said he would come and get him and for me to finish the race. I didn't want to leave but Wah told be to go and not lose more time"

Tikotani's skill as a cyclist can be seen on TV as he stars in a television commercial. When she heard of Tikonai's selfless act Film Producer, Catherine Morgan, was full of praise for Tikotani "There is such incredible spirit you have in the Fiji cycling family. He gets my vote for Sportsman of the Year."

Tikotani will be battling to regain time in the next race in the Fiji SUN National Cycling Championship Series from Lami to Pacific Harbour on 3 October.

Chicken Little wins Rooster Race

Junior in black and white

Favourite to win the 150 kilometer Rooster Race, Maseake "the Missile" Yalidole was pipped at the post by Junior "Chicken Little" Fong. Junior, newcomer Mapa in second and Mesa and all finished with the same time (5hrs 03mins 25secs). Less than a wheel length separated the three in an exciting 60kmph sprint for the finish line after cycling 150 kilometres from Suva to Korovisilou and back.

Mesake retains the lead in the points and is now almost unbeatable in the general classification (time) competition.

Rooster Cycle Race Results

1 Timothy Fong 5.03.25
2 Mapa Bolea 5.03.25
3 Mesake Yalidole 5.03.25
4 Jope Tikotani 5.58.02
5 George Lal 6.58.15
Christian Carling DNF
Naveen Prakash DNF
Yee Wah Sing DNF

Alisi does the double

From left - Alisi Takayawa, Susan McGoon, Ella Carling and Jessie McGoon

From left: Yee Wah Sing, Jope Tikotani and Timothy Fong

Junior cyclist, Alisi Takayawa, won the Junior Girls 3 Kilometre and Womens 1 kilometre Sprint at the 1 Degree Fun Cycle Races on Sunday. Takayawa is the niece of Fiji's Judo star Naca Takayawa. Two newcomers made surprise wins with Christian Carling winning the Mens 1km Sprint and Semiti Koroi came first in the Junior Boys 3 kilometre race. Race organiser, Dom Sansom, was pleased with the turnout. "We had record numbers at the races" he said "We ran out of race numbers because of the increase in competitors"

The 1 Degree Fun Cycle races are sponsored by 1 Degree, Fii Times, Samba and Nature Valley and are held on the third Sunday of the month.

Results

Mens 1km Sprint

1. Christain Carling

2. Timothy Fong

3. Yee Wah Sings

4. Jope Tikotani

5. Naveen Prakash

6. Caleb Koroi

7. Ian Curtis

8. Mapa Bolea

9.William Yee

Womens 1km Sprint

1. Alisi Takayawa

2. Jessie McGoon

3. Susan McGoon

4. Yun Ying Yee

5. Ella Carling

6. Mackenzie Morgan

7. Catherine Morgan

Sprockets (u8) 100m

1. Sophia Morgan

2. Tiana Carling

3. Max Sutton

Junior Girls 3km

1. Alisi Takayawa

2. Jesie McGoon

3. Ella Carling

4. Mackenzie Morgan

5. Susan McGoon

6. Georgia Morgan

Junior Boys 3km

1. Semiti Koroi

2. William Yee

3.Viliam Takayawa

4. Thomas McGoon

Open 10km

1= Timothy Fong

1= Yee Wah Sing

3. Jope Tikotani

4. Christian Carling

5. Mapa Bolea

6. Caleb Koroi

7. Naveen Prakash

DNF Ian Curtis

DNF Semiti Koroi

1 Degree Fun Cycle Races Sunday 02 Aug 09

Pinning on the numbers

Winner of the Women's 1km sprint, Jessie McGoon

Jope Tikotani, Scott Pickering, Timothy Fong, Leena Pratt, William Yee.

1 Degree Fun Cycle Races a success.

Vuya Road, by Suva Grammar School, in Suva was a hive of activity on Sunday morning as the Velocity Cycling Club held the 1 Degree Fun Cycle races. There was an upset in the Women's one kilometer sprint when 13 year old Jessie McGoon crossed the line 20 bike lengths ahead of the rest of the field, which included Fiji's Triathlon Champion, Seini "Nau" Dakuliga.

Dakuliga got her revenge winning the Women's 3 km race with fellow Triathlete, Leena Pratt in second place.

"It's great to see younger cyclists competing with experienced riders" Said 1 Degree Fun Cycle organiser, Dom Sansom. "We created a new category for under 8 year olds called the Sprokets. The Sprokets had two short races of 50 and 100 metres."

Both Sprockets races were won by Annie Rudell

The Mens 1 kilometer sprint was won by Maesake Yalidol who was unfortunately disqualified from the open race for not registering for the race. Scott Whippy and William Yee shared first place in the under 16 race when they crossed the line together with Gabriella Kado and Ella Carling in 3rd and 4th place.

The 1 Degree Fun Cycle races are usually held on the third Sunday of each month. The race was held on 2nd August after being postponed on the 21st July because of bad weather.

The races are open to everyone. Entry is free and bikes are available at a nominal fee of $5 including a helmet. The next 1 Degree Fun Cycle Race is Sunday 13 September 2009.

Results

Mens Sprint 1km

1. Mesake Yaldole

2. Timothy Fong

3. Jope Tikotani

4. Christian Carling

5. Yee Wah Sing

6. Naveen Prasad

7. Robert De Raeve

Women's Sprint 1km

1. Jessie McGoon

2. Yun Yee

3. Nau Dakuliga

4. Jessie Sansom

Sprokets (u8) 50m

1. Annie Rudell

2. Laura De Raeve

3. Lucy Rudell

Sprokets (u8) 100m

1. Annie Rudell

2. Laura De Raeve

3. Gabriella Kado

4. Tiana Carling

Juniors (u16)

=1. William Yee

=1. Scott Pickering

3. Celeste Kado

4. Ella Carling

Womens Open 3km

1. Nau Dakuliga

2. Leena Pratt

3. Yun Yee

4. Jessie Mcgoon

DNF Jessie Sansom

Open 10km

1. Timothy Fong

2. Jope Tikotani

3. Yee Wah Sing

4. Christian Carling

5. Nau Dakuliga

6. Leena Pratt

7. Gina Houng Lee

DNF Jessie Sansom

DNF Yun Yee

Mesake and Jessie win the long one

Winners Jessie McGoon and Mesake Yalidole

This from Fiji Sun. Monday 27 July 2009

A day of punctures and blow outs caused an upset in the FIJI SUN 2009 Fiji Cycling Championship on Sunday. Yellow jersey holder and favourite to win the 80 kilometre road race, Jope Tikotani, and a tyre blow out a few minutes from the start of the race. This lost him valuable time and rivals Mesake Yalidole and Wah "old war horse" Sing made the most of his misfortune and built up a good lead.

Half way through the race Yalidole suffered a similar mishap with a puncture and Wah Sing powered ahead to take advantage, although he was a true sportsman and gave Yalidole his only spare inner tube so that he could continue in the race. This would prove to be costly for Wah Sing as Yalidole made up the time and over took him 16 kilometers from the finish line and eventually won the race.

"Never give up" sain an exhausted Yalidole after crossing the line in first place "I punctured half way but I was determined to catch Wah. He may be twice my age but he is very strong, specially over long distances".

President of Cycling Fiji, Dom Sansom said that cycling is unpredictable. "Even if you are the strongest and fastest you can have problems with punctures or mechanical failures" he said "Overcoming these obstacles and coming first is the true sign of a winner. And the sign of a true sportsman is helping a competitor at a cost to yourself. Wah's actions were selfless and even though it may have cost him first place other cyclists will remember this and help him if he ever needs it. Cycling is like that.

The 80 kilometre road race, from Lami to pacific Harbour and back to Lami is the second race in the 2009 Fiji Cycling Championship Series organised by Cycling Fiji and sponsored by Fiji Sun, Esquires Wai Tui Cycles and Samba and is supported by the LTA.

Results
80km Road Race
1. Mesake Yalidole 2.43.46
2. Yee Wah Sing 2.48.03
3. Timothy fong Jnr 3.04.50
4. George Lal 3.08.45
5. Jope tikotani 3.09.17

Juniors 30km Road Race
1. Jessie McGoon 1.23.58
2. Susan Mcgoon 1.26.31

1 Degree Fun Cycle Races

8am Sunday 19 July, Vuya Road, Veiuto

Race 1 Men’s Sprint 1 circuit

Race 2 Women's Sprint 1 circuit

Race 3 Beginners’ & u23 2 circuits

Race 4 Juniors’ (u16) 2 circuits

Race 5 Women’s Open 3 circuits

Race 6 Open 10 circuits

Registration: 8am. Entry is FREE.
Races start at 8.15am and finish around 10.30am

Great prizes: Movie passes, FREE bike service at Wai Tui Cycles, Nando’s vouchers, Esquires coffee vouchers and lots more.

ALL WELCOME. Any type of bike can be used. Under 18 must have parents signature on the registration form.

Helmets MUST be worn by competitors at ALL TIMES at the race venue.

Fiji Sun FIJI CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009

Race1 Wai Tui Cycles 40km road race.

Colo i Suva - Nagalia Village - Colo i Suva

Name Time Ave Speed Points

1 Jope tikotani 1.17.05 31.14 km/h 8

2 Mesake Yalidole 1.17.16 31.06 km/h 7

3 Rupeni Seasea 1.18.55 30.41 km/h 6

4 Wah Sing 1.25.11 28.17 km/h 5

5 Vuki Kaliova 1.30.46 26.44 km/h 4

6 George Lal 1.44.49 22.90 km/h 3

7 Simon May 1.57.45 20.38 km/h 3

8 Leena Pratt 1.58.23 20.27 km/h 3

9 Sandra Lago 2.10.54 18.33 km/h 3

10 Ian Curtis 2.12.35 18.10 km/h 3

DNF Joe Movick

DNF Navin Prakash

Juniors

1 Christopher Cakabau 0.59.07

2 Jessie McGoon 1.06.32

3 Susan McGoon 1.18.55