11/03/2017
by Jason Tubnor
Thirty riders contested scratch races on the Darnum Circuit on Saturday.
C and D grade were combined. The race stayed together for the first 3 laps with the D graders hanging in there nicely. Ryan McGregor and Col Brown did much of the pace making but DeMac was also active on the front. Ryan tried hard to get away but Col was having none of that. Col won the sprint just from Ryan with Leigh Jamison in third. Pete MacDonald was fourth and continues to improve each week. Zvonko Maric was fifth and looks like he needs to train more.
Mick Blackwood was the best of the D Graders. He hung onto the bunch till lap 5. The ageless Terry Kelly was second. Just shy of the century he continues to provide inspiration for anyone thinking age is a barrier to physical performance. Peter McLean was third.
The B grade race was a one man show. Pete Whelan is in good form at the moment and when he took off solo on lap 3 it was always going to be difficult to bring him back. The locals left the majority of chasing to Leongatha visitors, Leigh Stott and Ollie McLean. Roland Elsdon was also called upon to help in the chase. Whelan established a substantial lead as the chasers, one by one, tired. Jayman Prestidge was one of the first to capitulate and was dropped and was passed by C grade. How the mighty have fallen. Bryce Edhouse, having his first race with the club, was also dropped.
Whelan soloed to a well-deserved victory. Roland enjoyed the uphill finish and took out the bunch sprint for second. Visitor Sam Warren from Melbourne was third.
Brett Kennedy was like a fighting bull before the A grade race. He circled the A grade peloton like Floyd Landis did before the infamous stage 17 of the 2006 Tour de France. It was decided by the bunch that the overly aroused Kennedy would be allowed some “me time” off the front.
When the flag dropped, as everyone had predicted, Kennedy took off like a raging bull. No one responded. Kennedy dangled off the front by 200 meters for all of the first 3 laps. A 24km solo was allowed just to take the edge off him. Paul Yeatman and Jason Tubnor seemed keen to chase.
After Kennedy was caught some short lived attacks followed. Adam Blanchards had a mechanical and took a lap out. Upon his return he was encouraged to work on his accelerations. The bunch designated him to chase Kennedy down every time he attacked. Adam is a triathlete and accelerations are not his strength. After throwing himself on three Kennedy Watt Bombs Blanchard’s exploded on number four and was not seen again. His race was over and his ability to accelerate still needs work.
With two to go Rob Monk and Will Lumby managed to get off the front but Monk punctured and it was race over for him.
On the bell lap Kennedy and Glenn Marriott worked hard to get away but they were not allowed much latitude. Matt “Matador” Parkinson had kept his sword in its scabbard. The picadores and taunted Kennedy and he was now bloodied and battered. Parkinson dispatched him quickly. He made his move and no-one could follow. He took off on the rise on Sturs Rd which is 2km from the finish and never looked like being caught. Parkinson won convincingly. Will Lumby sprinted well to get second with Jason Tubnor in third. Kennedy was last.
Parkinson reminded Kennedy post race, “The bull is stronger but the matador is smarter.” Kennedy appeared confused.
