Club racing on Saturday featured the running of the Lex Watt Trophy race and riders had to wait until after 1.30pm for light misty rain to lift before a start at 2.00pm. There was a field of 25 riders including some newcomers and a visiting rider. Following last weekends 3 day tour where around half of Saturdays starters had gained some excellent riding the result was a high pace for the trophy race. The race involved 2 laps of the Pound Creek circuit. The scratch trio were set the task of chasing 6 riders on 1 minute, 4 riders at 3mins, 5 riders on 5 minutes then a gap out to 3 riders on 13 minutes and limit bunch of 3 riders on 15minutes. Race conditions included a strong south westerly wind and overcast skies.
The first lap saw 4 riders withdraw and the disintegration of the scratch bunch. The duo of Ken Barnes and Lindsay Love were still alone out front but behind the 5 minute bunch had almost caught the 13min bunch whilst the 1 min and 3 min bunches had amalgamated and were quickly closing on the rest. This bunch included perhaps some of the fittest in the field with Paul Taranto, Phil Camenzuli and Tony Smith driving the bunch.
Into lap 2, Ken Barnes was soon on his own whilst the 5 min bunch was collecting all the others and the gap was quickly diminishing to the 1min bunch. By the time the field crested the golf course hill there was a large group of 11 riders heading the race, including the 1 min bunch and any others who managed to go over the hill with them. After a quick run down Pound Creek Road the judges were confronted by a mass sprint. Tony Smith used his great experience to advantage to come through with a well executed sprint to claim the win and fastest time (1hr 21.2min). Next home was Phil Camenzuli and Paul Taranto. In a close call visiting rider Ben Derks picked up 4th from Morgan Barnes. In another good finish Steve Allen was 6th, then Steve Wilson, Kevin Feely, Neil White and rounding out the top ten was Tony Clark.
In the junior race numbers were down as several were away competing in a junior event at Shepparton. However, James Scott made use of his handicap on the 12km race out and back on Pound Creek road to claim the win over the fast finishing Will Lumby.
updated 7am 18th Sept.
