16/02/2013
By Rob Monk
Forty five riders contested the second race of the Voyage Fitness Handicap Series. It was a quality field but ultimately the pros could not catch the middle men and the 4.5 minute bunch triumphed.
The limit riders doing 5 laps were Col Manintveld, Kate Prestidge and Mariah Dastey. They were chased by Glen Ogilvy, Ray Rhodes, John Davine, Rod Cheyne and Trev Rollinson. Next away with 7.5 minutes on scratch were Neil Edwards, Graeme Patrick, James Blythe, Kayleen Chaproniere, Chris Jones, Alan McColloch and Bruce Staben. Chris Jones struggled to keep up this this group so dropped back sit on the back of the 4.5 minute bunch for the entire race. This group comprising Rob Monk, Pete Finlayson, Ross Henry, Brett Miller, Roland Elsdon, Col Brown, Chester Sanderson and Jason Dastey flew around lap one in less than 13 minutes taking time out of the chasing 3 minute bunch. After 3 laps the 4.5 minute group had taken time out of the chasing group of Darren Cook, Jayman Prestidge, Paul Yeatman, George Tambassis, Stuart Battley and Clem Fries.
The 1.5 minute trio of Matt Malacarne, Graeme Parker and Jim Timmer Arrends stayed away from Glen Schoer, Shane Stiles and Justin Gravett for 2 laps. Starting one and a half minutes behind scratch were the pro trio of Jarryd and Brenton Jones and Kane Walker. They struggled to catch the groups in front. Adele Whelan, Annie Pryjmak and Kristen Theile started 2 minutes in front of scratch and needed to complete 4 laps. Last week’s winner Deb Bargwanna started after scratch completing 4 laps with first time racer Phil Porter and Louise Clark and Mitch Jones.
After 3 laps it was clear the 4.5 minute bunch had the chasing groups covered. The 7.5 minute bunch had reeled in the groups in front of them. Nearing the end of lap four the 4.5 minute and 7.5 minute groups came together making a bunch of over twenty riders. Only Bargwanna and Porter remained up the road but they were in sight and being reeled in quickly.
The pace saw many go off the back. Graeme Patrick was one of the few riders from the 7.5 minute group who continued to roll through. Brett Miller, Jason Dastey and Pete Finlayson were the strongest in the 4.5 minute group and they kept the speed up. Roland Elston telegraphed an attack on the last hill to string the bunch out. Miller, Dastey Finlayson and Monk were able to go with him. Miller rolled away over the top of the hill and held a 30 meter lead rounding the final bend. He looked back and decided that he had enough left to go for home. Dastey and Finlayson chased briefly but made little ground on Brett. Miller gave it everything and took out a strong win. Rob Monk started the sprint for second and had to give everything he had to hold off Chris Jones. Jones had sat on for four laps without doing a single turn but managed to find the energy to sprint. Rob Monk hung on for second with Chris Jones in third. Then followed Pete Finlayson, James Blythe and Col Brown. Kayleen Chaproniere was the first female over the line.
Race three is on next Saturday at 9.00am starting at the Darnum Footy Ground.
