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An 11-year-old cyclist has been injured after bottles were thrown at riders during a cycling race near Hastings.

The Ramblers Cycling Club meeting was called off after the incident on Saturday afternoon, which happened at about 2.45pm along Mutiny Road in Poukawa.

Police are asking the public for help to find the offenders.

“The occupants of a black Ford Ranger ute were seen throwing bottles from their vehicle towards participants of the cycle race on Mutiny Rd,” a police statement read, adding that it was a council-sanctioned race.

“A young person was hit by a bottle and fell off their bike.

“Fortunately, the injuries sustained were not serious.

“The vehicle then drove towards Middle Rd and continued travelling south.

“The vehicle had large off-road tyres and a roll bar on the back.”

Ramblers Cycling Club manager Katja Williams said it was completely uncalled for and unacceptable.

She said the club members were so upset and concerned by the incident, they cancelled the rest of the race meeting.

She said the 11-year-old boy was riding among a group of seasoned riders and, as far as she understood, had two bottles thrown at him - one of which hit him.

“There was no reason for that sort of aggression level,” she said.

“[The rider] was injured, not severely ... but he came off the bike which would hurt any adult.”

She said the club used the race circuit, Mutiny Circuit, about once every six weeks for a race, and signage was put in place to alert motorists.

Williams said the club had never had something like this happen before. The young rider had been riding with the club for years.

She said it was “just horrific” behaviour and she encouraged anyone who had seen that vehicle or had information to notify police.