08/09/2007
Warragul cycling club raced in nearly perfect conditions at Darnum on Saturday. The combined A and B grade field raced over 7 laps of the 8.2km circuit. Callan Barker was not intimidated by the A grade riders. He attacked on lap two and managed to stay away for a lap of his own. Steve Twinning was the first rider to really break for the line. Yeatman and Kennelly were forced to chase. Steve looked like the winner 5 meters before the line but Matt refused to give up and tried to sneak up the inside. On the line the judge could not separate the two leaders. Matt thought he won it but the judge could not separate them. Paul was no far away in third spot.
The three A graders did an extra lap. James Henry and Chris Beales managed to lose Tim Lee before the sprint. James was too quick for Chris in the uphill drag to the line.
In C grade Karen Munro was used as a pacemaker by the other riders. In the sprint Gatty thought he’d give her some competition but it was short lived. This was a good warm up for Karen’s tilt at the Masters road championships on Sunday. Karen powered away for a strong win. Gatty took second. Tammy Patrick and Pam Bensted staged an epic battle for third spot.
Junior riders Cy Monk, Joe Patrick and Renee Patrick raced over 3 laps. Joe did much of the pacemaking. He looked to be in trouble at the end of lap two but battled his way back on which was a wonderful effort. Pam just took out third and she was very pleased. Rounding the corner onto Sthurs Road it looked like a three way sprint was likely.
Cy Monk had other ideas though and he put the pressure on along Sthurs Road. He time-trailed to a good win. Renee finished second. Joe was third.
A good day of racing was had by all. Next weeks race is a club combine hosted by Latrobe at Yinnar on Sunday.
