Handicap racing isn’t for everyone - it’s the purest form of racing - a test of being able to work as a team, some of our riders learnt today that breaking away alone or going out too fast only destroys the bunch.
Sixty four riders signed up to take on the 54km course in chilly but good conditions. Nine groups set off at various times with 22min separating limit riders from scratch riders. Introduction of our juniors into senior racing is definitely pushing things along and making for some exciting racing.
The limit group of nine riders set off at a steady pace working well together, the next group to leave four minutes behind chased hard and caught them early in the first lap. Next away at six minutes were as determined and made good progress. Those three groups became one after the first lap and worked hard, the standout riders Allan Milne, Max Anderson, Wayne Murchland spent a lot of time on the front. Woodstock hill claimed a few victims who dropped back to fight on alone. Juniors who had standout days were young Makayla Smith, Hamish Keast and Lucy Timpany who were rewarded with good results.
Middle groups leaving at 12 and 15 minutes combined together much like the earlier starters, they also pushed a fast pace with the idea of catching front bunches. Some cowboys tried to break away (not very wise) only to be chased down and blown out the back. Strong riders in this group were Dave Beadle (as always), Rikki Griffin, Blake Tait-Jones (welcome back) and Andrew Holden. They had the leaders in sight three quarters of the way into the race and looked like catching. Reports from within the bunch say that not everyone was working so those who were gave up the chase. No point leading out for the sitters!
Scratch and Break pulled together early into the second lap, a tough day out for new scratch rider Brendan Akeroyd who battled all day but found the pace a bit tough coming off a bout of sickness. From all accounts and observation it looked like the work was shared fairly evenly amongst everyone, they just didn’t push hard enough finishing only three minutes short of the winners.
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Result: |
1st |
Makayla Smith |
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2nd |
Hamish Keast |
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3rd |
Lucy Timpany |
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Fastest Time: |
Phillipa Gray/ Shaun Finney |
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Fastest Time Junior: Brayden Stephens |
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Fastest Time Female: Gabby Vermunt |
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1 lap |
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1st Lachlan Graham |
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2nd Josh Miller |
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3rd Pete Grandiek |
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“Whenever you see someone riding faster than you, assume they aren’t going as far”
Race report courtesy of super hero Waine Harding
Photos courtesy of photo-fabulicious Robyn Edie