21/12/2013
By Rob Monk
After a two year break racing returned to the popular Burke St circuit on Saturday. Twenty five riders battled near gale force winds.
The A grade race was animated by the angry Leigh Hauxwell. Hauxwell prefers his own company and did all he could to shake the bunch on the hill. He managed a few laps off the front and near the finish it was only the selfless riding of Brett Rollinson that brought him back. At the bell the field was together and with the 50km/h hour tail wind in the finishing straight the scene was set for a high speed finish. Dave Salton was first to jump for home. He was really putting the power down when his chain dislodged throwing a major scare through those behind him.
Once he’d recovered from the shock Greame Parker headed for home. He gave it everything and hit a top speed of 62km/h in the wind assisted sprint. Matt Parkinson was on his wheel but could not come off it to get past. Parker was first with Parkinson second. Leigh Hauxwell sprinted well to get third. Pete Finlayson finished fourth.
The B grade race was dominated by Pete Whelan who was clearly the strongest rider in the field. Pete attacked on lap 2 and with Thommo attached like a trailer on a car, they did a lap and half off the front. Thommo didn’t do a turn. Paul Yeatman and Rob Monk jumped across to them but could not go on with the effort and the field eventually came back together. Whelan pushed the pace up the King St hill each lap slowly taking the edge off the sprinters. Approaching the start finish line for the final time Whelan took off and no-one really gave chase. He soloed to a convincing victory. Rob Monk won the sprint for second easily from Paul Yeatman (pffff, PY’s version of events) with James Blyth in fourth.
The C grade bunch featured talented Junior riders Matt Duttneal and Mitch Jones. The older riders made sure the young fellows did some work and at the bell Shane Wakker had the field stretched out. Duttneal went for home with a long way to go and Trev Rollinson who may be spotting young Duttneal more than 40 years in age still showed the young fellow that in a long, grinding sprint he’s very hard to beat. Col Manintveld followed Trev past a weakening Duttneal to get second. Matt took third and will learn from the experience. Time is on his side.
In D grade Frank Bensted and Robyn Baker lapped consistently but Frank was just too strong in the sprint finish.
Racing resumes at Endeavor St Warragul on Jan 11th at 2.00pm.
Riders are reminded that each day over the Christmas New Year period the famous Warragul Cycling Club Christmas rides leave daily at 7.30am. These rides are between 60 and 70 kilometres in length and are moderate in intensity. This is a great fun opportunity to lose some of the Christmas kilo’s you have put on.
