29/03/2014
By Rob Monk
A combined field in A and B grade still resulted in close racing for Warragul Cycling Club members on Saturday. Twenty Four riders participated in nearly perfect conditions.
A and B grade did four laps and the race stayed together for most of the journey. Matt Parksinson was clearly the strongest rider and he towed Zvonko Maric and Ross Henry round for part of lap 2 then Ross and Zvonko were off again with Alan McCollouch on Lap 3 but nothing would get too far away.
Rob Monk and Thommo did even less than usual. When the A graders are present these two feel even less obligation than usual to do anything other than sit on the back and wait for the sprint. Some amusement was gained by watching recently promoted Shane Wakker make a number of rookie mistakes that saw him end up off the back. Shane Stiles looked after him the first time and dragged him back on. The second mistake meant Wakker would ride the last lap alone. Graeme Parker, Shane Stiles and Pete Whelan picked up the pace from the final bend to the finish line but no-one was dislodged from the pack.
Pete Finlayson took a fly with 2k to go and was looking good till Parker and Whelan chased him down. Thommo was so fresh after doing nothing all race that he found himself on the front too quickly. He was leading with 200 meters to go and Parkinson and Monk were able to pass him before the finish. Parkinson was a well deserved winner with Monk second and Thommo third. Then followed Graeme Parker and Allan McCollouch.
The C grade field of nine raced over 3 laps. The field stayed pretty much in tact on the hill each time though Greg Sealby and Ray Rhodes did have to chase back on a couple of times. The experienced Jimmy Lalor had told anyone who would listen how little training he’d been doing and how unfit he was. This was enough to fool Graeme Patrick, Col Manintveld and Neil Edwards into towing him around for 3 laps. Jimmy then cleaned them up in the sprint to take the victory and promotion to B Grade. Sam Abbott was a close second with Col Manintveld third, Greg Sealby fourth and Neil Edwards fifth.
In D grade Frank Bensted had a serious case of new bike syndrome. When you get a new bike you go “like 10 men” for about 3 months. Frank is unbeaten on his new bike. National Track Medallist Adele Whelan was second and Pam Bensted was third.
Next week there is Silver-wear up for grabs. It is the Club Hill Climb Championship. We start near Yarragon and race the 7km up to the top of the Yarragon hill. First to the top gets the prize. You have to be in it to win it.
Results of Shady Creek Scratch Race Saturday 29th March, perfect conditions 24 starters.
A/B Combined 4 laps
1st Matt Parkinson
2nd Geoff Thomson
3rd Rob Monk
4th Graeme Parker
5th Alan Mc Collouch
C Grade 3 laps
1st Jimmy Lalor
2nd Sam Abbott
3rd Col Manitveld
4th Greg Sealby
5th Neil Edwards
D Grade 2 laps
1st Frank Benstead
2nd Adele Whelan
3rd Pam Benstead
