B grade pass the Leongatha Golf Club for the first time. (24 event images)
The last race day of the road season was another cold day at Pound Creek for the running of the McIndoe Cup. This is a scratch race for the seniors so is contested by the A grade riders. This year the field was just seven riders and included Paul Makepeace from Latrobe Valley and Shane Stiles from the Warragul club. The pace was on from the start as the riders raced along the Tarwin Lower Road with a tail wind. The 2 laps of the circuit includes several climbs including the climb past the Golf Course into a head wind. By the second time past the Golf Course there were just 3 riders out front – Brett Franklin, Will Lumby and Austin Timmins. The latter part of the season had seen Will sprinting really well and so it came to a sprint finish and a bit of sprint match racing in the lead up to the dash to the line. Brett lead the sprint out but Will quickly found the speed to go past and take the win and get his name on the trophy for the first time. Brett was a narrow second with Austin in third. The next trio to finish saw Shane Stiles 4th, Paul Makepeace 5th and Leigh Stott 6th. Harrison McLean, still suffering from the winter wog finished 7th.
In the B Grade race there was a field of 9 riders. The first time up the hills toward Koonwarra Morgan Barnes moved away from the field and kept a good pace going until the second time up this road. His pace setting meant the riders took liberties with the wet road at the junction with the Koonwarra-Inverloch Rd. Rob Waddell slid off and lost contact with the bunch and then had to ride 1.5 laps by himself. The field split up just before the climb over the Golf Course hill leaving just three to race for the placings. Neil White proved too quick and took out the race from Morgan Barnes and Bernadette Fitzgerald. Next home was Tony Giles and Rod Cheney. Brad Bouquet filled 6th, Kerry Pritchard 7th, Dane Herbert 8th and Rob in 9th.
The junior field was back to 5 riders – a duo on scratch – Oliver McLean and Boyd Makepeace, Thomas Fitzgerald at 2 min, Kaleb Jans at 4 min and Felicity Waddell at 7min. There start was at the intersection of the Koonwarra Rd and the Tarwin Lower-Inverloch Rd. We hope the ignorant driver of a grey Ford Territory who foolishly overtook the riders when they could not safely see the on-coming traffic reflects on their stupid driving.
Kaleb after crossing the finish line.
The scratch duo had only just started when the senior B Grade field came past and were soon having trouble up the hills with these riders. However after the herb farm they were once again riding their own races. Oliver was riding strongly and rode away from Boyd over these first hills. Meanwhile, out front Kaleb had caught Felicity and was flying. Thomas once again was in trouble with a dropped chain and had to watch as Oliver went sailing by. Onto the run down Pound Creek Rd and it was Kaleb with a good lead. With critical aggregate points at stake he was not about to surrender and raced to the line a clear winner with Oliver 2nd and Thomas in 3rd. Felicity was working hard to make sure she beat Boyd and with a great battle down the last 5km held on for 4th, Boyd 5th.
Next weekend the riders have a Sunday training ride scheduled for 8am at Outtrim. Depending on the numbers riders will ride through the hills for a training ride or rides – come along and enjoy some company on the road.
report by Lindsay
The aggregate bonus points for scratch races that apply to each grade are:
1st = 3pts, 2nd = 2pts and 3rd = 1 pt. (handicaps 5, 3, 2, 1)
(Due to an over-sight, a correction to the Bena aggregate points has been made!)
updated 8am 2nd June
