06/05/2006
Racing on Saturday was at Cloverlea and bunch sprints decided all grades except the C2 race.
In A grade evergreen sprinter Geoff Thomson proved too strong for Shane Stiles in the sprint to the line. As usual Stiles made it a tough race for anyone who was not at the top of their form. He managed to shake James Henry and first time A grader, the improving Mark Oakley Brown, on the third of 4 laps. Thommo Matt Malacarne and Shane were left to fight out the finish.
In B grade Tim Lee and Chris Beales were out to make it an honest race right from the start. Beales decided to timetrial the first lap perched 100 meters off the pursuing bunch. Once he was caught Tim Lee took over the majority of the pace making and even led out the sprint a long way from home. Pete Finlayson and Steve Twining would have been confident of getting over the top of Tim in the run to the line but he was just too strong. Pete finished second and Kane Walker and Chris Beales were separated by less than ½ a wheel for third place. Congratulation to Tim who had only his second win in a club race.
Handicapper Staff Duncan decided to split the large C grade bunch into C1 and C2. In C1 Ross Henry won the bunch sprint from Col Brown. They were followed closely by Trev Rollinson and Monique Handley with Dave Bailey in sixth position.
In C2 the only successful breakaway of the day was carried out by Neil Walker. He attached the bunch on the rolling hills in the back straight and rode strongly to hold off Dave Axford and Anthony Lalor who worked well together along Parker Road but couldn’t catch Neil. First time racer Bruce Pratt finished not far away in fourth place.
In D grade the bunch remained together for the majority of the race. Taking the sprint was Bredan Pridmor with Liz Watson second and Tammy Patrick in 3rd spot.
Next weeks race is a Lillico. Junior riders are having a social ride at 1.00pm while the seniors race at 2.00pm.
