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Results and Reports for May 4-10, 2002

Australia

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Mildura-Coomealla Cycling Club

May 4, 2002

By Peter Winton
The opening event of the winter season 2002 was held at our South Merbein circuit, fifth St and Honor road on Saturday afternoon, 4th May. 21 riders, well it's great for us, turned up and paid up. The recent "come & try" day drew a couple of new faces but the heartening thing was at least four regular riders were unavailable so good fields are hoped for in the coming weeks.

Handicapper, Barry Pollock, sent newcomer Brendan Liddle off with not so young Billy Wass with a 20 minute start on scratch. At 12 minutes were Robyn Doyle, Ralph Morrish, David Priest, Michael Osborne (new) and Kev Gregory. six minute markers included Harvey Dwyer, Mark Phillips, Michael Vaughan, Basil Taggert (new) and Barry Gentle (Broken Hill).

The scratch group was essentially a B grade group including Peter Mills, Arthur Anderson, Jack Lokan, Barry Pollock, Michael Shipsides, Nathan Welsh and Peter Winton bolstered by A grade riders Rob McNally and Adam Wightwick. The 20 minute gap was always a worry and became more so when Pollock punctured early and Mills dropped out of the running.

The limit riders had gone round once on the 6km circuit and had a further two and half minutes of ride time on the next bunch. The 12 minute group contained some handy club riders capable of holding speeds in the mid to high 30's. The chase pack rounded up the 12 minute bunch at about half way (fourth lap) and set to task to reel in the next handy group. It wasn't until the 36km mark however that scratch sighted the six minute bunch and even then they were a kilometre off. With scratch down to seven riders and not all of them with their minds on the job it was a frustrating and tiring effort to make considerable inroads. Added to this the fact the B grade riders are usually in "stay-away" mindsets and not "chase", hopes of catching the limit groups faded.

By this time Brendan Liddle had made good use of his generous handicap and although jumping on the back of a group he wasn't supposed to (excuses for his race ignorance) he deserved the winning points ( if he joins up!).

Scratch rounded out their day with a bunch sprint behind Rob McNally who could have gone around again for a further 48.5 km's after not having Kevin Tankard to contend with all day.

Good numbers, excellent conditions and a great result for the limit riders all in all a great days racing.

The Club looks forward to next week's 70km graded scratch at the Riverside circuit as riders concentrate on preparing for the Tour of the Riverland (Berri Open).

Results - 48.5km Handicap

1 B Liddle                   1.33.15 
2 K Gregory
3 M Osborne
4 R Morrish
5 D Priest
6 B Taggert
7 M Phillips
8 H Dwyer
9 B Gentle
10 R McNally (1.14.22)
11 M Shipsides
12 N Welsh
13 P Winton
14 A Wightwick
15 A Anderson
16 J Lokan
17 R Doyle
 
Fatest time - Rob McNally    1.14.22
 
4 riders not finishing