12/03/1994
By Murray Fenwick
There has always been a tremendous gap between the A and B grades ranks in Warragul cycling. Saturday’s racing saw that gap nearly bridged with some of the closest racing seen for many years. A few riders even hinted that the bridge will be crossed this winter with some strong time trailing from the B grade ranks.
The 4.5 km time trial or the race of truth became the proving ground for riders with Tim Plozza putting in the ride of the day. Plozza hasn’t been with the club long and every week he has improved and soon will be promoted following his time trial which clocked in only 15 seconds slower than the A graders. Aaron Nobelius 6.00, Murray Fenwick 6.02, Thaddeus Roos 6.12, Geoff Thomson 6.13, Tim Plozza 6.31, Paul Yeatman 6.35, Leigh Bechaz 6.43, Daniel Dilger 6.40.
If the time trial was close the scratch races were even closer with some controversial results.
The A grade bunch was blessed with having the former junior road champion amongst its ranks and for the two laps a lot of watching went on. The finish proved to be a strange one when the riders weren’t aware that the race was two laps instead of three. This left Roos on the front in the final metres as the checkered flag was suddenly raised and the sprint started. Roos looked like he had the race won until Nobelius came around him on the inside with Fenwick on the outside. These two only just passed Roos on the line with Nobelius having to be content with second with Roos third and Thomson fourth.
The B grade bunch went from the bell and by the second lap they were nearly a minute faster than A grade. In the final straight Plozza made a strong bid for home from a kilometre out. He was riding strongly until the dying metres when Ben Fleming came from nowhere throwing himself from side to side trying for that little bit extra. He reached Plozza only metres from the line and finished about a tyre in front of Plozza. Third went to Scott Keeble with Jason Boxall, Daniel Dilger and Peter Bailey all coming in close behind.
Matt Hall was a determined C grade victor after having been beaten in the time trial. Leigh Bechaz claimed second after only just beating Kevin Ware to the line in an excellent effort with Anthony Vogrig taking Russ Walker in much the same fashion with a narrow margin.
Saturday saw the largest junior field ever with kids on all sorts of bikes in all sorts of age groups. The winner of their 3 km time trial was Clinton Knoll in a brilliant performance in coming in over 30 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. Ryan Honeyman was second with Justin Spunner only three seconds back in third with Paul Larkin, Michael Maunder and Michael Everett coming in only seconds apart.
The Handicap was an exciting one with the young riders battling hard in little gears over the hills. It was a great win to Anthony Young who rode by himself and put time into many of the riders behind him. His brother Matthew Young took second place with Shane Boxall third and Paul Larkins fourth. Fifth went to Mjchael Everett with Justin Spunner taking sixth and Chris Knoll seventh. Eighth went to Ryan Honeyman with Michael Maunder not far off and Rebecca McKeller not far off the pace.
