19/03/1994
Last Saturday saw the culmination of the Gippsland Criterium Series at Maffra with a complete domination by Warragul’s senior and junior riders.
The final leg of a six race series resulted in wins to Phil Gallagher in A Grade and the much improved Ben Fleming in the junior event. Gallagher broke away in the third of the 40 lap event only to be chased down by his club mates in Wayne Kestle, Murray Fenwick and Aaron Nobelius. Once together these four boys worked very strongly and by the end of the race had more than lapped the remainder of the field over the one kilometre circuit. In an exciting sprint to the line Gallagher took the honours from Kestle with Fenwick, after a brilliant tear away victory the previous week, a close up third just ahead of Nobelius.
Warragul’s other competitor – Geoff Thomson -was a little unlucky when he punctured in the final lap after being in a good position to lead in the second bunch for fifth place.
Paul Yeatman rode a strong race in the B Grade event and came in a close up second.
In the junior under 17 event, Flemming proved too good in the final sprint for a much improved thirteen year old Stephen Fenwick, Daniel Dilger and Scott Keeble who could have been a little unlucky after a final corner scramble.
Presentations were made for the series after the races with Kestle taking out the senior award ahead of Gallagher and Leongatha’s David MacFarlane with Nobelius and Fenwick tying for fourth.
The junior awards were split into pre and post December with Ron Heron taking out the first series from Steven West and Keeble; and Fleming dominating the second series to score comfortably from Keeble and Dilger.
The Warragul club congratulates the organizers and sponsor Warragul Cycles and Trophies and looks forward to the revamped road series where Gippsland riders can again get together for some healthy expanded competition.
