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.
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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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