The main field on the return, with 8Km to the finish. (23 event images)
Saturday racing was held from Tarwin Lower with the senior field racing out to Walkerville and back. Weather conditions were fine, cool and a light wind. With 17 riders in the field and strong backmarker numbers it was set up for them to dominate. The race involved the climb up the hill to the Cape Liptrap turnoff, a plunge down to the top estate at Walkerville followed by a stiff climb back up the Cape Liptrap corner before the long run back to Tarwin Lower. By the time the field had returned to the hilltop the 3 rider scratch group – Brett Franklin, Stefan Kirsch and Will Lumby – had joined with the 3 min bunch of Peter Hollins, Harrison McLean and Chris Rowe and had the rest of the field covered. The power riding of the back markers quickly shed numbers up the rise at the 8mile corner leaving the fittest riders to contest the outcome. Chris Rowe was not keen to leave it to a sprint and managed to open a gap with only a kilometre to go. This let Chris sprint solo to the line for the win just ahead of a fierce 3 up battle for the minor places. Brett Franklin has a narrow clearance for 2nd and fastest time – 1hr 6.o6 min – ahead of Will Lumby, 3rd and Stefan Kirsch 4th. Just behind was Peter Hollins 5th , Harrison McLean 6th, Morgan Barnes 7th, Brad Bouquet 8th, Bernadette Fitzgerald 9th and Rob Waddell rounding out the top 10.
9min handicap group of Felicity, Michael and Alfred as they start the 18Km out-and-back course.
There were 10 junior riders for the 18km race out and back on the Walkerville Rd. Max Slinger and Sullivan Herbert were on 11min, Felicity Waddell, Alfie Herbert and Michael Eastwood were all on 9 min then there was a big gap back to Tom Fitzgerald, Mitch Harry and Kaleb Jans at 2 min whilst on scratch Matt Winchester and Oliver McLean had plenty of work and no hills to help. Felicity was quickly into a good tempo dropping her co-markers on the run to the turn. Max Slinger was first to turn but was only 100m ahead of Felicity. The back 5 had also grouped up by the turn and Matt and Oliver had the bunch travelling well. Felicity continued her good pedaling on the return to have a clear win. Alfie Herbert rounded the last bend just ahead of a fast finishing bunch and just hung on to his lead to claim 2nd. Oliver won the bunch sprint for 3rd and also took fastest time – 35.00min. Next home was Matt, followed by Tom, Mitch, Max, Kaleb, Sullivan and Michael.
The weekend also saw Club riders racing elsewhere. On Sunday several riders were racing at Boolarra in the Gippsland Road titles. Harrison McLean obviously liked the hilly course as he won the elite men road race. Will Lumby was second in this race. In the Women’s race, Grace McLean took out 2nd place while in the M15 division, Oliver McLean scored a win.
Whilst it is the local road season, the advent of the indoor velodrome in Melbourne means you can race on the track all year round and the past weekend there has been a major meet in Melbourne with an elite International attendance. In support races Austin Timmins won his M17 wheelrace heat but had to settle for 4th in the final. In the M19 group, Thomas McFarlane took out a B grade scratch race and came 2nd in the M19 keirin.
Next Saturday the club racing will be at Kernot.
report by Lindsay
updated 9am 25th Sept.
