Sunday saw the club run the last race of the road season – the Tarwin Lower picnic race. This event starts at Leongatha and the riders race down the highway to Inverloch and then to Tarwin Lower, with a picnic lunch after the racing. As usual there seemed to be a strong and cold south westerly blowing for the run to Inverloch. However after the turn the riders get a good tail wind. With increased traffic on the highway it may be time for a review of the race arrangements as conditions are much changed since the inaugural race in 1974.

This year the number of starters was down and lone limit rider Rick Whitehouse had a 15 min start with the first chasing bunch of five riders at 6 minutes. This bunch included Steve Piasente, Steve Wilson, Neil White, Kerry Pritchard and Morgan Barnes. They were followed by five riders on 3 minutes. This was the group of Eamon Feely, Paul Taranto, Tom Debenham, Kevin Feely and Tony Smith. The back numbers were depleted with only Thierry Roland on 2 minutes whilst on scratch was Nick Aitken and Stuart Smith.

Rick Whitehouse kept a steady tempo going and had a handy gap at the Inverloch roundabout. However, the 6 minute bunch had conceded little time to the 3 minute bunch. Meanwhile the scratch duo had picked up Thierry and were eating into the start gap to the 3 minute bunch.

As usual, the fit riders and bunches soon close down gaps with the strong tail wind. By the climb up the hill at Masons Rd the 6 minute bunch had picked up Rick but still had a gap over the chasers. The scratch bunch had caught the 3 minute bunch by the Powneys Rd climb and then an attack by Nick on the Masons Rd climb saw him go clear to chase the leaders alone.

The turn into the finish straight at Tarwin Lower saw Steve Piasente lead the sprint out down the middle of the road to claim the win. Next home was Steve Wilson just ahead of Neil White and Rick Whitehouse whilst Morgan Barnes took 5th. Just over 1 minute later Nick Aitken sprinted home for 6th and fastest in 67.26 min for the 45km. The rest of the field was lead home by Stuart Smith in 7th, then Tom Debenham, Kevin Feely and Thierry Roland rounding out the top 10.

The Junior riders raced for the Adam Lindsay trophy on an out and back race on the Walkerville road. This year the event was won by Tom McFarlane from Matt Dudley.

Next weekend club riders will have a social ride from Leongatha, via Kongwak and Bena to the Loch reserve for a picnic lunch and season trophy presentations. The Leongatha riders will leave the ICA car park at 9.00am. Riders will also ride from Inverloch and Wonthaggi so that they meet at the Kongwak roundabout at 10.00am. Any riders wishing to join in are welcome.

Race report by Lindsay Love