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Round 6 - Taupo 7/8 April 2007.
MEDIA RELEASE
BRENNAN WINS NEW ZEALAND SUPER SEDAN SERIES
Tauranga driver Grant Brennan sealed championship victory in the 2006/2007 Schaeffer Oil
N.Z. Super Sedan Series at the Taupo Motorsport Centre today.
Brennan arrived at the final round nine points clear of Auckland driver Steve Cox while Papakura driver Dean Evans and Waitara's Ross Calgher were also still in championship contention.
The weekend started well for Brennan as he won Saturday's handicap race from the back of the grid in his Brennan Corvette SB2. However his major rival Cox had a disastrous start to the weekend when the gearbox in his F40 Silhouette failed on Saturday, damaging the crown wheel and pinion and rendering him a non starter in today's two races.
Brennan made sure of the title with two second placings today. The first, in this morning's rolling start scratch race came after a superb dice with Dayne Running in a Chev Camaro while this afternoon he charged through the field into second place to secure the championship.
Dean Evans raced well throughout the weekend to finish the championship in second place in his Mazota while the consistent Calgher ended the series third overall in his Dodge Viper.
After his problems on Saturday Cox dropped from second to fourth in the final standings.
This morning's race featured a great battle between eventual winner Dayne Running in a Chev Camaro and Brennan. The duo were locked together for lap after lap until Brennan had a slide and the pair had a slight touch. Alan Duncan of Rotorua brought his Saker SV1 Chev home in third place behind the duo. The race also featured another great dice between David Brennan and Robert Jack, a continuation of their battle in yesterday's race. Meanwhile the Commodore of Blair McDonald suffered a broken axle and withdrew on the third lap.
The series came down to the final race and Brennan made it through to second place to ensure he was the 2006/2007 Schaeffer Oil N.Z. Super Sedan Series Champion. Mark Heimgartner of Auckland won the race after a good drive in an ex-Brennan Chev Camaro while another
Aucklander, George Sheweiry was third in his Ford Mustang.
The 2006/2007 Schaeffer Oil N.Z. Super Sedan Series has been a great success and indications are that it will only get better next season.
Lindsay Beer
2006/07 SCHAEFFER OIL N.Z. SUPER SEDAN SERIES - ROUND 6 TAUPO MOTORSPORT CENTRE
RACE 1 - SATURDAY 7 APRIL
1st - Grant Brennan (Tauranga) - Brennan Corvette SB2
2nd - Robert Jack (Tauranga) - Escort Chev V8
3rd - George Sheweiry (Auckland) - Ford Mustang
RACE 2 - SUNDAY 8 APRIL
1st - Dayne Running (Drury) - Chev Camaro
2nd - Grant Brennan (Tauranga) - Brennan Corvette SB2
3rd - Alan Duncan (Rotorua) - Saker SV1 Chev
RACE 3 - SUNDAY 8 APRIL
1st - Mark Heimgartner (Auckland) - Brennan Camaro
2nd - Grant Brennan (Tauranga) - Brennan Corvette SB2
3rd - George Sheweiry (Auckland) - Ford Mustang
FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS
1st - Grant Brennan - Brennan Corvette SB2 (Tauranga)
2nd - Dean Evans - Mazota (Papakura)
3rd - Ross Calgher - Dodge Viper (Waitara)
4th - Steve Cox - F40 Silhouette (Auckland)
5th - Robert Jack - Escort Chev V8 (Tauranga)
MEDIA RELEASE
BRENNAN TAKES FIRST BLOOD AT SUPER SEDAN SERIES FINALE
Tauranga driver Grant Brennan made a great start to the weekend when he won the opening race of the final round of the Schaeffer Oil N.Z. Super Sedan Series at the Taupo Motorsport Centre today.
Brennan started from the back of the grid in his Brennan Corvette SB2 in today's handicap race and drove through the traffic to open his account with a good win. The race was an exciting spectacle with several good battles, especially over the final laps of the race as the field closed up as the faster cars came through the pack.
Brennan's win extended his championship lead with two more races to be fought out tomorrow. His major championship rival, Steve Cox of Auckland, is now out of contention after he suffered a horror start to the weekend. Cox had a big spin early in today's race before the gearbox in his F40 Silhouette cried enough, damaging the crown wheel and pinion. The resulting damage has eliminated Cox from tomorrow's races. Prior to the weekend Cox had explained the team was using an older gearbox after their best unit suffered problems at the previous round.
Several others ran into problems in an incident packed race with David Brennan having a spin on the last corner of the last lap in his Camaro. Up until that point he had been having an excellent dice with Robert Jack in his Escort Chev V8.
Others to have minor indiscretions in the race were Justin McIlroy in his Commodore while fellow Commodore driver Paul Wilton of Mangonui went off three times, recovering on each occasion to finish the race.
However there was no denying Brennan this afternoon as he raced to the win in front of a large crowd. Jack, also of Tauranga, managed to come home in second place while George Sheweiry of Auckland was third in his Ford Mustang. Fourth was Dayne Running in the Chev Camaro seen in the hands of his father Dennis on previous occasions.
Qualifying also had it's share of action as Ross Johnson had a huge lock - up in his Porsche and Nigel Smith a small off in his Commodore. Meanwhle Bruce Goodwin blew an engine in his Ford Capri.
Alan Duncan's Saker performed exceptionally well today after recent modifications.
The Schaeffer Oil N.Z. Super Sedan Series will contest two more races tomorrow, the second of which is another handicap race.
Lindsay Beer
2006/07 SCHAEFFER OIL N.Z. SUPER SEDAN SERIES - RACE 1 TAUPO MOTORSPORT CENTRE
1st - Grant Brennan (Tauranga) - Brennan Corvette SB2
2nd - Robert Jack (Tauranga) - Escort Chev V8
3rd - George Sheweiry (Auckland) - Ford Mustang
4th - Dayne Running (Drury) - Chev Camaro
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Fastest Laps for Round 6-
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Grant Brennan
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1:29.145
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Dayne Running
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1:30.380
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Steve Cox
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1:33.097
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Alan Duncan
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1:33.484
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Mark Heimgartner
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1:35.573
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Robert Jack
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1:35.583
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David Brennan
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1:35.906
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George Sheweiry
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1:35.952
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Peter Stewart
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1:38.320
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Ross Calgher
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1:38.742
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Dean Evans
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1:40.419
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Blair McDonald
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1:40.695
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Paul Wilton
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1:42.070
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Ewan Scott
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1:43.062
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Nigel Smith
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1:44.308
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Warren Lauder
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1:44.798
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Justin McIlroy
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1:44.914
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Ross Johnson
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1:46.339
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Joe Nacagilevu
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1:48.852
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Bruce Goodwin
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1:49.112
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Round 5 - Taupo 10/11 February 2007 - Another hot fine weekend.
Round Winner - Grant Brennan - First
Steve Cox - Second
Mark Heimgartner - Third
MEDIA RELEASE - 11 FEBRUARY 2007
BRENNAN SECURES LATEST ROUND OF SUPER SEDAN SERIES
Tauranga driver Grant Brennan took the honours as Round 5 of the Schaeffer Oil N.Z. Super Sedan Series was fought out at the Taupo Motorsport Centre this weekend.
Brennan won both of today's races at the 3.320 kilometre central North Island track. He had finished second in the first race of the weekend yesterday behind Steve Cox of Auckland, gaining a new lap record in the process. Today he raced to victory in both 6 lap races, the first a rolling start event - the second a handicap event that required him to come through from the back of the field.
After slashing the lap record yesterday the Tauranga driver dropped the mark still further today, leaving the record at 1 minute 30.492 seconds. Brennan set the new record in this morning's race as he led home Nigel Snow of Ohope in a Nissan 300ZX and the previous day's race winner Steve Cox of Auckland.
The race featured an excellent dice between Papakura driver Dean Evans in his Mazota, Paraparaumu's Ewan Scott in his Nissan Skyline powered Datsun and Paul Wilton of Mangonui in his VL Commodore V8 Tourer. The trio are always closely matched and provided door to door racing and plenty of place swapping during the race.
Alan Duncan of Rotorua, the third fastest qualifier yesterday, spun his Saker twice during the race but recovered well.
Brennan capped off his weekend with a win in today's handicap race bringing the Corvette through the traffic to win from Snow with Tauranga's Robert Jack third in an ex-Brennan car, a V8 engined Ford Escort.
Duncan had another spin, but again recovered well, while Aaron Eagle of Auckland was making excellent progress through the pack in his Commodore HSV until he executed a 360 degree spin on the second to last lap.
Brennan was pleased with the performance of the new Brennan Corvette in just it's fifth race meeting. "It's really performing well. It is where I expected it to be about one or two meetings ago." The result leaves him well placed in the series with one round remaining. Meanwhile Cox struggled with the sequential gearbox in his car this weekend. He finished 8th in the third and final race today and has now lost the series lead.
The series had an international presence today with George Miedecke, son of former Australian ace Andrew Miedecke, driving a Holden Commodore Super 6 Saloon. Although he started from the rear of the grid on each occasion Miedecke thoroughly enjoyed his experience of the series.
Management of the series sponsors, Schaeffer Oils also attended the event this weekend, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle the category provides.
The Schaeffer Oil N.Z. Super Sedans will return to Taupo over the weekend of 7/8 April to fight out the final round of their 2006/2007 championship.
Lindsay Beer
MEDIA RELEASE - 10 FEBRUARY 2007
CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER WINS OPENING SUPER SEDAN SERIES RACE
Championship leader Steve Cox of Auckland won the opening race of Round 5 of the Schaeffer Oil N.Z. Super Sedan Series at the Taupo Motorsport Centre today.
Cox blasted his Lexus powered F40 Silhouette, a Ferrari F40 replica, through the field in the handicap race this afternoon to win by 4 seconds from Tauranga driver Grant Brennan. Brennan, who was just 5 points behind Cox prior to this round, had the satisfaction of setting a new lap record for the class. He left the new mark at 1 minute 31.366 seconds - an average speed of 109 miles per hour.
Earlier in the day Brennan had qualified his Brennan Corvette SB2 fastest in the scorching hot conditions. Nigel Snow of Ohope in a Nissan 300ZX was second fastest qualifier ahead of Alan Duncan of Rotorua in his New Zealand built Saker SV1. The Saker has a Chev V8 powerplant producing in excess of 500 horsepower.
However with the handicap format of today's race the faster cars were consigned to the back of the field with Auckland's Joe Nacagilevu (Holden Commodore HSV) making the early running. Midfielder Mike Parsons of Orewa came through to take the lead and get a good break in his Ford Falcon. However after four of the six laps the backmarkers had caught the field and were carving their way through the traffic.
Cox made it through to take the win from one of his main championship rivals, Brennan. Parsons managed to hang on to third place, just 2 seconds behind the Tauranga driver. One of the other series frontrunners, Ross Calgher of Waitara, suffered a spin in his Dodge Viper V10 during the race.
The Schaeffer Oil N.Z. Super Sedans will have two more races tomorrow - a rolling start event with the fastest competitors to the front in the morning with another handicap race tomorrow afternoon.
Lindsay Beer
Round 4 - Pukekohe 14 January 2007 - A Hot Fine Day
Round Winner - Dean Evans - First
Steve Cox - Second
Robert Jack - Third
20 cars entered with Mark Heimgartner back in the Camaro, Robert Jack Escort and aaron Eagle Commodore both repaired after the last round. Qualifying saw the demise of Roger Willams Merc and George Sheweiry Mustang. Peter Stewart missed qualifying.
Race 1 Handicap. Racing hard saw Aaron Eagle pull up when his Commodore overheated, Neil McCaull suffered a broken axle in the HQ Holden and Grant Brennan lost valuable time with a spin in the Corvette on lap 5. Robert Jack came home in the Escort after gaining the lead on lap 4 ahead of Ross Johnson in the Porsche, and Mark heimgartner in the Camaro. Peter Stewart Cortina just pipped Ross Calgher Viper for fourth. There were some great duels down the field.
Race 2 Rolling Start
Steve Cox F40 hit the front from the start but was soon passed by Grant Brennan who won comfortably when Steve had some engine issue, Robert Jack worked through to third followed by a smart drive by Dean Evans Mazota for fourth spot. Mark Heimgartners run was halted with a fuel pump failure on the formation lap. Again some close mid field battles with Ewan Scott Datsun holding off some hard racing by Mike Dias and Paul Wiltonin their Commodores.
Race 3 Handicap
17 cars fronted and a hard fought race ensued. Aaron Eagle Commodore came through to win ahead of Dean Evans Mazota, Mark Pederson Falcon and Steve Cox F0. Nigel Smith Commodore was 5th and Joe Naagilevu Commodore 6th after leading right to the last lap by some consistant driving. Rob Gilmore spun at the Esses in the Commodore and did not finish.
Fastest Lap Times
Grant Brennan 59.63
George Sheweiry 1.00.24
Steve Cox 1.01.09
Mark Heimgartner 1.01.61
Aaron Eagle 1.03.71
Mark Pederson 1.04.07
Robert Jack 1.04.90
Dayne Running 1.04.96
Dean Evans 1.05.83
Peter Stewart 1.06.05
Ross Calgher 1.06.12
Ewan Scott 1.06.64
Mike Dias 1.07.27
Paul Wilton 1.08.27
Ross Johnson 1.08.68
Nigel Smith 1.09.75
Rob Gilmore 1.10.83
Neil McCall 1.14.04
Joe Nacagilevu 1.14.44
Round 3 - Pukekohe 2/3 December - A fine weekend.
Round Winner - Grant Brennan - First
Steve Cox - Second
Ross Calgher - Third
25 cars finally turned up, Dean Bevan and John Rush not running and Mark Heimgartner on leave.
Qualifying saw all record times from which some restriction was implimented on the faster cars. Andy Greenslade Camaro sheared a gearbox shaft and Roger Williams Merc blew headers. Frantic effort saw them running on Sunday.
Race 1 - Handicap. After a hard charge things went wrong on lap 3 when Blair McDonald had a piston let go down the main straight dumping oil that caught the following cars out. Aaron Eagle had a high speed ride bouncing from left to right off the barriers in the Commodore. Robert Jack then had a stub axle break going up the hill to the front straight in the Escort. At the same time Jon Blewett had the throttle jamb wide open on the Commodore at the end of the back straight giving him a hairy moment.
There was a Safety Car restart that closed the field and Glen Brazier easily came through to win in the Corvette ahead of Ross Calgher in the Viper and Grant Brennan in the Corvette. There was some spirited racing back in the feild. Mike Dias just crossing 0.023 sec ahead of Nigel Smith after a great duel.
Race 2 - Rolling Start
Andy Greenslade had the Camaro back as did Roger Williams the Merc. Aaron Eagle arrived back with the Clubsport miraculously straightened and panelbeaten painted and signwritten but just too late to take the field. What an effort!
A great start with keen racing all the way. Roger Williams had an engine problem on lap 3 and turned the Merc off, Pat Harrison had some problems in the Porsche as did Mike Oldham in the Mustang (It having just been repowered that morning and turning the wheels for the first time). Good racing all the way through the field again with Glen Brazier coming home first with a new track record lap followed by George Sheweiry in the Mustang and Andy Greenslade in the Camaro.
Race 3 - Handicap
Roger Williams turned the Merc on cold tires at the esses and that brought about a Safety Car restart. Some of the feild was split over the start line when the Safety Car was deployed. The tight bunching resulted in a short sprint with some of the faster back markers disadvantaged. Grant Brennan came home first followed by Steve Cox in the F40 and Dean Evans in the Mazota. Roll on January back at Pukekohe.
Fastest Lap Times
Glen Brazier 57.141 NEW TRACK RECORD
Roger Williams 58.067
George Sheweiry 59.636
Grant Brennan 59.762
Andy Greenslade 1.00.265
Steve Cox 1.01.114
Aaron Eagle 1.01.842
Blair McDonald 1.04.357
Robert Jack 1.05.344
Pat Harrison 1.05.540
Dean Evans 1.05.644
Ross Calgher 1.05.822
Mike Dias 1.06.874
Ewan Scott 1.07.464
Peter Stewart 1.08.520
Justin McIlroy 1.08.698
Ross Johnson 1.08.735
Paul Wilton 1.08.863
Nigel Smith 1.09.808
Mike Oldham 1.10.429
Mike Parsons 1.10.873
Jon Blewett 1.12.906
Joe Nacagilevu 1.14.673
Neil McCall 1.14.728
Round 2 - MG Whittakers 11/12 November
Round Winner - Luke Youlden - First
Andy Greenslade - Second
Grant Brennan - Third
17 Cars finally turned up to race, with several under development and still not completed in time.
Qualifying was cut short before anyone was really in the groove due to an accident at Higgins, most drivers getting only 2 timed laps.
Race One was a handicap and despite Roger Williams Mercedes getting a good run through the traffic to build a healthy lead, there was action aplenty as Steve Cox F40, Grant Brennan Corvette and Andy Greenslade Camaro pushing through to race over the line in that order half a second apart. Luke Youlden Mustang had too much of a hurdle with his handicap but managed to set a new track record in the traffic for a fine 5th place. All this with no power steering!
Race Two was a rolling start in wet conditions. Safety considerations saw a single file start and the challenging conditions saw some careful driving by those on slick tires. First was Luke Youlden Mustang, who managed a rare spin, second was Andy Greenslade from Dean Evans Mazota, loving the wet, and fourth was Steve Cox F40. Newcomer Conrad Ekdahl Commodore drove a strong sixth place. Ross Calgher enjoyed a great drive in the Viper as did Warren Lauder in the Starlet. Blair McDonald had an off at the end of the front straight but was able to regain the track.
Race Three was changed to a scratch race after a meeting of drivers as safety was paramount in the wet conditions. A drying track saw a reasonable race line and Luke Youlden Mustang lead home Andy Greenslade Camaro from Grant Brennan Corvette from Dean Evans Mazota and Ross Calgher Viper.
Robert Jack Escort and Steve Cox F40 both experienced gearbox issues. Peter Stewart Cortina and Ewan Scott Datsun both had their first outing at Manfeild and both showed that they will be soon on the pace with these quick cars.
Fastest Lap Times
Luke Youlden 1.05.994
Roger Williams 1.09.670
Andy Greenslade 1.10.906
Grant Brennan 1.11.294
Steve Cox 1.11.321
Robert Jack 1.14.801
Ross Calgher 1.18.317
Blair McDonald 1.18.563
Dean Evans 1.19.299
Ewan Scott 1.20.939
Peter Stewart 1.21.306
Conrad Ekdahl 1.23.298
Warren Lauder 1.24.345
Bruce Goodwin 1.24.709
Justin McIlroy 1.25.822
Joe Nacagilevu 1.27.803
Neil McCall 1.28.514
Round 1 - Race Results - Taupo
Round Winner – Luke Youlden - First
Roger Williams - Second
Steve Cox - Third
Quailfying
Dean Bevan had engine trouble with the Commodore at testing as did Mark Heimgartner in the Camaro with a broken axle. They were out for the weekend.
Luke Youlden showed his class as a professional with Stone Brothers Racing V8 Supercars and had the Mustang flying. He managed a small off pushing it hard to the limit. Blair McDonald had fuel trouble with the newly powered Clubsport and Peter Stewart had oil pressure isssues in the Cortina so were off the pace. Grant Brennan was taking it easy making sure things were all sorted with the new Corvette.
Race 1 – Handicap
This was too easy as the fastest cars Luke Youlden, Grant Brennan and Roger Williams were sent off early as Andy Greenslade missed pit lane. They came through with Steve Cox in fourth. Paul Wilton was flying in the new Commodore.
There were a few offs through the field but no damaged cars. Ross Johnson had engine trouble with the Porsche.
Race 2 – Rolling Start
The drizzle started as the cars lined up on the dummy grid and got heavier as they started out on the warm up lap. There had been a delay with a major oil spill on the circuit in the previous race and an extra lap was given in warm up. Conditions were fast becoming marginal or slicks off the race line and a cautious approach was taken to release the start with the cars well spread out.
Most made the best of the conditions albeit at a slower pace with no harm from many offs. Luke Youlden once again showed his experience putting on a great display to come hoe first ahead of Roger Williams in the Mercedes, Steve Cox in the F40 and Dean Evans in the Mazota who loves the wet.
Race 3 – Handicap
There was a hard charge required by fastest cars to make their handicap, with a 2 minutes 25 seconds handicap given to Luke Youlden on the front starters.
Blair McDonald brought the commodore home first by 7.28 seconds ahead of Luke Youlden in the Mustang who pipped Steve Cox on the finish line by 0.015 second. 30 seconds covered the first 15 cars home. All were trying hard with some uncharacteristic offs. Again no damage and a lot of smiling faces enjoying a great race.
Fastest Laps
Luke Youlden 1.30.427
Roger Williams 1.37.614
Andy Greenslade 1.39.329
Grant Brennan 1.39.758
Steve Cox 1.40.912
Robert Jack 1.43.211
Aaron Eagle 1.45.909
Ross Calgher 1.46.840
Blair McDonald 1.48.506
Paul Wilton 1.50.159
Ewan Scott 1.50.399
Dean Evans 1.50.429
Ross Johnson 1.51.334
Justin McIlroy 1.55.302
Neil McCaull 1.55.500
Mike Parsons 1.57.180
Peter Stewart 1.57.332
Joe Nacagilevu 1.57.737
Warren Lauder 1.57.778
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