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Mildura-Coomealla Cycling Club

Colignan and back Graded scratch races, August 7, 2004

Busch by a wheel in A Grade

By Peter Winton (on the side-lines)

A grade

A good bunch of 9 being the full complement of Mildura's best competitive cyclists: Errol Schmidt, recently crowned Club Champion, Mark Busch, Scott Giles, Rob McNally, Kevin Tankard, Peter Mulhearn, Ian Brade, Nathan Floramo and Ian "Big Boy Rump" Beruldsen.

Standard fare really, from my passenger seat viewpoint. Floramo and Brade mounted a serious attack on the bunch from ZilZie winery or thereabouts and stayed away for 5kms. All back together again not long after they had gone round the D grade bunch.

In the 2 rider sprint finish it was Busch by a wheel over Floramo and a good gap to the remainder of the fairly even bunch.

B Grade

A 9 rider bunch, with latecomer Tom Sutcliffe saddling up for only his second hit-out. Peter Mills, Jack Lokan, Rob Akkermans, Peter Doody, Harvey Dwyer, Richard Hale, Dion Bassi-Anstee and Arthur Anderson. The interest in this event was with Anderson and Doody. Would they feel their lages after the Payneham Open the week before or would they be strong and take on their contemporaries?

The wild card was Tom Sutcliffe. A strongly built mountain biker who has had very few opportunities to get accustomed to road racing (at least at Mildura).

Peter Mills suffered a mechanical problem before the turn around at Colignan and was something akin to 1,000 metres off the back when the Priest-mobile "sag wagon" cum-Press car sidled up alongside. At the turn around a break of sorts had occurred. The "Doc" was off the front with sprinter Akkermans. No panic from the main pack was evident. Next to find himself in trouble before reaching the Nangiloc store was Dwyer. Apparently Sutcliffe had tested the riders out with a once-twice-three-times attack on the field covered by Doody. Poor DY wasn't used to this effort, got caught on the front and failed to read the play, in his words he was "probably wearing a blonde wig" today (dumb!!).

A dead-set two rider tussle eventuated at the end with that pair of summer time protagonists, Akkermans and Doody, at it 300m out. Doody seemed to have it but then Akermans buried his head into his h/bars and kicked and lasted by half a bike. As in the A grade a gap of a few seconds existed between the first 2 and remainder of the field.

C Grade

The C grade bunch held 5 members today, Greg Scott, Jeff Mitchell, Kev Gregory, Adrian Lloyd and Steph Frawley. Unfortunately a crash occurred on the return leg which put Greg Scott out of the race and into an ambulance with a suspected broken collarbone. No other rider was brought down or injured.

Good to see Adrian Lloyd back on his "Look" and it's a pity Scotty tipped himself off as it would have been a very interesting finish. That's racing I guess however, we all hope Gregorious is back soon.

D Grade

Another bunch of 5 (does that make a fist?). Andrew Twaddle, Sam Priest, Robyn Doyle, Tom Athorn, and new member Joe Monteleone (another Cannondale!).

This bunch rode the shorter distance of 54kms, turning around at the Nangiloc store and were the final group to depart the starting area, 6 minutes behind the A grade.

Following in behind this group you could tell the difference in rider balance on the bike, their uneven passing skills and distances made between riders whilst passing. I'd never witnessed it before. I wonder if I really am the same? Geez, I hope not.

Then again, it's amazing how athletes in any sport always play better when amongst those in a higher level!

On the return leg it was Andrew Twaddle and youngster Samuel Priest breaking off the truce and making a bee-line for home. Young Sambo was too good in the finish for Twaddle and held the lead for a considerable distance to win by 3 - 4 bike lengths.

Next week is a one-lap affair of Fletchers Lake (50kms) under handicap conditions. Normal start time of 1:30pm

Results, 66kms

A grade
 
1 M Busch         1:42:05
2 N Floramo
3 K Tankard
4 R McNally
5 S Giles
6 I Brade
7 E Schmidt
8 I Berulden
9 P Mulhearn
 
B Grade
 
1 R Akkermans    1:46:30
2 P Doody
3 J Lokan
4 R Hale
5 T Sutcliffe
6 D Bassi-Anstee
7 A Anderson
8 P Mills
9 H Dwyer
 
D Grade
 
1 S Priest  1:40:29
2 A Twaddle
3 T Athorn
4 R Doyle
5 J Monteleone

Local results 2004

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