25/04/1992
By Stuart Cuckson
Although numbers were down due to the weekends Mt Buller events, the Warragul Cycling Club took to the short but testing Nilma North circuit in an exciting 30 kilometre handicap event.
The small field of 14 riders was split into five different senior bunches with the powerful John Salton, Geoff Thomson and Tim Eerhard riding from scratch and giving up to seven and a half minutes to the out markers.
The limit bunch of four riders, as well as 11 year old Ben Cumming who needed only to complete 20 kilometres, slowly diminished to two at the end of the first of three laps. These two riders, Sue Van derveen and Stuart Cuckson, worked hard to try and stay away from the chasing riders. By the end of the second lap, Salton and Thomson had caught the one and a half minute bunch of Murray Fenwick, Graham Hanks and Grub Melnyk and together they all worked hard and, even at this stage appeared destined to catch all four riders in front of them.
Early into the final lap, four and a half minute markers Brian Miller and Paul Yeatman were swallowed up by the bunch of five.
It was now inevitable that the two limit riders were going to be caught as the big bunch of seven began to really push hard in pursuit. Heading up the long drive-in hill in Copelands Rd, with only about five kilometres to the finish, the experience and class of Salton and Thomson told as they powered past the desperate Cuckson and Van derveen and headed off for a two man charge to the line.
Hanks, Melnyk, Miller, Yeatman and Cuckson tried to stay in striking distance as the others in the bunch started to struggle.
In what has become a familiar sight, Salton and Thomson fought out a close sprint with Salton finally taking out the honours. The minor sprint placing went to Melnyk almost 30 seconds behind as he led in Hanks, Cuckson, Yeatman and Miller.
Fenwick led in the other riders ahead of Van derveen, Anthony Radcliffe, Sharon Tatnell and Brett Miller who all battled hard for the total journey.
It was good to see that all riders who started the race finished as well, including young Ben who rode very well at his first attempt on the hilly circuit
If there is anyone in the public who has an interest in cycling and would like to either race or just come and watch, the racing begins at 1.30 pm for juveniles (under 16) and 2 pm for seniors at Nilma North Primary School.
A reminder to members of the club of the meeting coming up on May 11 at 7.30 pm in the club rooms. All members are most welcome and encouraged to attend.
