22/04/2006
A handicap race on a cold and windy day at Cloverlea is always a tough day on the bike for all concerned. Handicapper Staff Duncan has demonstrated precise handicapping recently but every race is a new challenge for him.
Staff in an innovative move set C – Grade away first. With 8 minutes on scratch and 4 laps (44km) to race, last weeks winner Kane Walker, his dad Neil Walker, Dave Axford, Trev Rollinson and Matt Kennelly were going to be hard to catch.
Next away, with a 6 minute head start, were the C+ group of Rob Monk, Paul Yeatman, Col Brown and Dave Bailey. This group decided to work together for the first 3 laps even if it meant waiting if someone was suffering. Paul Yeatman was suffering from the start. Col , Dave and Rob waited as long as they could and in the end decided it was better to proceed without Paul. By this stage the group in front had increased their lead. The B grade bunch of Chris Beales, Mark Oakley Brown, Tim Lee and Steve Twining had 4 minutes on the scratch bunch. They worked beautifully together, each rolling through and not missing a turn.
The next group to leave were D grade. They had only 1 minute head start on A grade but only had to travel 33km or 3 laps. Gita Walker, Liz Watson, Pam Benstead and Greame Patrick on his brand new bike set off at a steady pace. The A grades flew past them but would have to do so again to win the race. Trent Brown, James Henry, Matt Malacarne, Geoff Thomson and Shane Styles would have to motor to catch the bunches in front. By the top turn James Henry was already in the red zone but he hung on and the bunch stayed in tact.
After 1 lap C grade looked like the bunch to beat. They had held off the C+ group and increased their lead on them by 10 seconds, their first lap completed in 19 minutes 22 seconds. In recording this time they dropped Dave Axford and Neil Walker. A grade scorched around the first lap in 17 minutes and 7 seconds and if they could maintain this pace they would win.
The C grade tilt came to a crashing halt on the 3rd lap when Trev Rollinson and Matt Kennelly clipped wheels along Parkers Rd. Both riders hit the deck which left Kane Walker to push into the strong head wind on his own. Just after the start finish line he was caught by the now combined A, B and C+ bunches. Only the D graders remained to be caught. With 14 riders in this combined bunch it was anyone’s race.
The A graders picked up the pace near the top corner and spit the large pack to pieces. Kane Walker tried to bridge across to them but was caught in no mans land. The Shane Styles and Matt Malacarne led train rattled on in search of the D graders still ahead. By the end of Parkers Rd they had caught in order, Gita Walker, Pam Bensted and Liz Watson. Only Greame Patrick remained to be caught as they turned into the finishing strait. The fired up A graders flew past Greame with the finish line in sight.
Matt Malacarne was first to go for home but James Henry took over and looked the winner but he’d given Thommo long enough to wind up the big 53-11. Thommo took it out with James in second and Matt Malacarne in 3rd . Shane Styles claims he didn’t know they had caught everyone so didn’t contest the sprint. This sort of manufactured excuse should not be encouraged. When you are clearly not fit enough to finish your races you should train a little harder. Shane please take note.
Staff did a top job. He’d has not stuffed up a handicap for a long time. Thanks to Justin O’Conner for performing the commissars role for the day and to Thommo for putting out the signs.
Next week is the club championship so all club members should make a special effort to attend.
