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Results and Reports for June 22-29, 2002

Australia

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Mildura-Coomealla Cycling Club

Special Trophies Day

'50s legends make a guest appearance

By Peter Winton

Two of Victoria's premier cyclists of the 1950's, Bill "Whizzer" White and Les Julian, graced Mildura's cyclists with their presence on Saturday, June 22 for the Mildura-Coomealla Cycling Club's "Whizzer" White Cup for Open riders, and the "Ned Kelly" for Veterans, Special Trophies Day held at the club's Riverside circuit.

19 riders gathered awaiting for the local newspaper cameraman to capture their image for Club posterity and for WinTV to roll the camera for "moving pictures" - and more importantly, digest the meaning of their handicap for the day's event.

Six riders off scratch, Chris Baudry, Rob McNally, Adam Wightwick, Peter Mills, Michael Shipsides and Nathan Welsh. In the 5 minute consortium were Harry Robbins, Ian Brade, Ian Beruldsen, Barry Pollock, Harvey Dwyer, Peter Winton, Kevin Gregory, Basil Taggert, Mark Phillips and Brendan Liddle. Limit riders were Bill Wass, Robyn Doyle and Michael Koopman.

The limit group, not coping with the headwind up the "Palms" straight were easily caught within 10km. With the 5 minute bunch working steadily the scratch riders made up no more than 15 seconds by end of lap 2 and with 5 laps to go it was quite possible this group of ten would stay away. Winton decided the group needed a bit of stir up and he attacked twice during the middle laps but was unable to break the clutches of Ian Brade and Basil Taggert. Meanwhile the scratch bunch had lost Shipsides after he found the pace too hot - "Shippy" earned his place in the scratch bunch by riding very strongly in recent months.

Brendan Liddle suddenly found the effort to crank up the pace after riding into the wind a little difficult and although he tried to stay on the back he couldn't and then adding to his woes, suffered a puncture. Basil Taggert, who had been riding well, lost a spoke and withdrew from the fun on lap 4. On lap 5 Ian Brade challenged the group to go with him or be damned - the group just smiled back and wished him and Ian Beruldsen good luck riding into the wind, we all knew better!

Barry Pollock opened his account at about the 44km mark when he charged off the back in an attempt to reach the double "B's" (Brade & Beruldsen). Winton then dragged up Dwyer and Phillips into the chase and all 4 collared Team Ian B before the Scout Hall corner with the bunch still altogether. All the while the scratch bunch was not in sight. Within 2km however, the scratchies had made an appearance, some 500 metres off and this seemed to spoil the party somewhat as the bunch speed into the wind once again eased back. The A grade group had captured the 5 minute riders with 6km to go and the pack was now 12 riders deep.

Sensing an opportunity to inflict some cycling pain into the legs and lungs of other B graders Winton kept the pace up around the 40km mark with 2km to go after riding off into the dirt to stay away from the lanterne rouge. Ian Brade the only one with any compassion for the President came along and too a turn. You know the drill: no-one is going to do any work while A grade riders are in the mix but with an attitude of nothing ventured nothing gained Winton was off into the dirt again at the 1km mark and challenged the pack. When will the blood stop rushing to his head? A bunch sprint ensued for the finish and "Whizzer" and his mates had fun watching the race unfold.

In the end Baudry was too good for the field with Ian Beruldsen getting his wheel and taking second place from Rob McNally. Next week 6 riders are off to compete in the Lyndoch Classic whilst the local event is scheduled for the Red Cliffs cemetery circuit.

Results, 56km handicap

1 C Baudry
2 I Beruldsen
3 R McNally
4 I Brade
5 B Pollock
6 M Phillips
7 H Dwyer
8 H Robbins
10 K Gregory
11 P Winton
12 N Welsh
13 R Doyle