‘B’ grade head off on two laps of the circuit.
(49 event images)
Poowong – home of the Magpies
Saturday saw Club members enjoy another great day for racing and a new course starting and finishing in Poowong. Racing went from Poowong toward Nyora before turning left at Peterson Rd and heading back toward Loch. At Loch the road again veers left and heads back to Poowong. However there is vicious hillclimb back into Poowong. The A. B and C grades raced scratch races over 2 laps (38km) whilst the D grade raced a handicap over 1 lap.
In the A grade field there were just 4 starters and Brett Franklin kept the pressure on all the way and in the process disposing of two challengers prior to the last ramp up into Poowong. Brett made sure he was first round the turn into the main street and the short dash to the line saw him win by several bike lengths from Harrison McLean. Will Lumby rode the hill at an easier pace to secure third ahead of Darcy O’Connor in 4th.
In B grade, it was David Supple who took control of the race. Oliver McLean tried to match the super fit masters rider but lost contact with him on the first climb into Poowong and ended up chasing the next lap but to no avail as David again stormed up the hill for a clear win from Oliver. Chasing behind but not quite bridging the gap was Phil Hanley into 3rd place. Another super fit masters rider, Rod Cheyne also did the second lap in chase mode to secure 4th. Bernadette Fitzgerald won the sprint in for 5th ahead of Kobi Merchant and they were followed home by Tony Giles and Brad Bouquet.
In the C grade race it was a Masters field and Kerry Pritchard enjoyed the hill climbs as he rode away from the challengers to score a clear win. Mark Bensley came home for 2nd whilst Graham Jans did a great ride for 3rd. Peter Lewis having his first ride did not enjoy the climb into Poowong and took 4th whilst Dane Herbert took 5th.
“In the climb up to Poowong Thomas Bouquet rounded up Harry to come home a clear winner.”
In D grade, the field of 6 juniors saw Thomas Fitzgerald and Kaleb Jans chasing 4 minutes to new rider Thomas Bouquet and Zach Stubbs-Taylor on 4 minutes whilst out on 8 minutes were Harry and Sulli Herbert. Harry managed to ride away from Sulli on the climb back toward Loch and it was a similar case with Thomas getting away from Zach. In the climb up to Poowong Thomas Bouquet rounded up Harry to come home a clear winner. Chasing behind Thomas Fitzgerald left Kaleb behind on the hill and chased hard after Harry but failed in the chase by just 10cm at the line with Harry sprinting home for 2nd. Thomas Fitzgerald took 3rd and fastest time. Kaleb rode home 4th, Zach 5th and Sulli 6th with all three having trouble with the climb into Poowong.
At Darebin Disc for the Winter track series Austin Timmins had a good night taking out the Men B grade progressive Points scratch race switching from Road to Track in fine style.
Next week racing is at Outtrim so riders will enjoy some flatter conditions. The riders doing the 3 day tour over the June long weekend will need to keep racing to build their form.
report – Lindsay
updated 9am 25th Sept.
