Sixty-five cyclists took part in the inaugural War on the Shore bike race, July 24. Michael Johnson photo

Megan Dunn

Sixty-five cyclists hit the streets during the inaugural War on the Shore Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) sanctioned criterium bicycle race which took place in conjunction with the Marine Heritage Festival, July 24. Organized by Brett Martin of Martin’s Bicycle Shop in Southampton, racers completed laps that equaled 998 metres on Huron, High, Front, and Saugeen Streets in Southampton, with times recorded by livelaps.com.

“There were probably half a dozen local riders on the podium,” said Martin in a telephone interview July 26, adding that the criterium style race is new to the area and that the majority of riders were from out of town. “The reason we ran it was because it was very spectator friendly, there’s always action happening,” Martin said.

The class purse for the men and women’s intermediate races was up to $800 and funds raised, worth approximately $1,500, will be divided between Liv-A-Little Foundation, G.C. Huston Public School and the Marine Heritage Festival.

The highlight for Martin was the free children’s race that took place following the criterium race. It saw 21 youngsters of all sizes and abilities race around the Southampton Cenotaph on High Street, with most participants achieving a podium finish.

Martin considers this year’s War on the Shore an overall success and hopes to include the event again at Marine Heritage Festival.

War on the Shore Top 3
Open Men
1: Andy Stephensen
2: Graham Starrs - Southampton
3: Quentin Smethhurst - Hepworth

Open Women
1: Nadine Harding - Southampton

Beginner Men
1: Rob Bennett
2: Alex Dunn
3: Jamie Wilken - Port Elgin

Beginner Women
1: Dana McDonald - Port Elgin

Sportif Men
1: Jim Gantley
2: Shane Hotchkiss - Kincardine
3: Andrew Barton - Owen Sound

Sportif Women
1: Laura Robinson - Southampton
2: Heather Kelly

Intermediate Men
1: Darcy Woollay
2: Alexis Cartier
3: Michael Rice

Intermediate Women
1: Sadie Holmes
2: Sophie Hotchiss - Kincardine
3: Kylie Starrs - Southampton

Matt Barfoot during the War on the Shore race July 24, with an average speed of 28.5 kilometres per hour. Michael Johnson photo

Sam Weichel placed 10th in the men’s intermediate race, with an average speed of 33.1 kilometres per hour. Michael Johnson photo

Graham Starrs from Southampton placed second in the open men’s race during the inaugural War on the Shore bicycle race, with an average speed of 30.2 kilometres per hour. Michael Johnson photo

Port Elgin’s Dana McDonald placed first in the women’s beginner category with an average speed of 28 kilometres per hour. Michael Johnson photo

The War on the Shore race began on Huron Street in Southampton, looped around the Flag on High Street with Front and Saugeen streets completing the 998 metre route. Michael Johnson photo