Orange Club Race
Orange Cycle Club held a club race on Sunday 18.7 on the Forrest Reefs-Tallwood Loop. Always a challenging course that feels like you are always climbing, coupled with rough road and many potholes you could float the Royal Navy's flotilla in. Two laps and a solid turnout for the day faced the riders with some nice sunny weather. The challenge was out with the wind picking up and some riders showing some good form after the Mudgee weekend the week previously.
Start List and Handicaps
|
Terry Rossi |
18 |
|
Darryl Grant |
18 |
|
Ray Selmes |
12 |
|
Nathan O'Brien |
12 |
|
Brian Kennelly |
8 |
|
Mick Cain |
8 |
|
Steve Marks |
8 |
|
Ian Reed |
8 |
|
Grant Roe |
5 |
|
Mason Manwarring |
5 |
|
Andrew Foxall |
5 |
|
Charlie Gascoyne |
1 |
|
Owen MacPhillamy |
1 |
|
Angus Tobin |
Scratch |
|
Mick Troy |
Scratch |
|
|
The dangerous group looked to be the second block group with Grant, Mason and Foxie all showing some strong legs on previous rides and at Mudgee, with Grant nabbing a 10th on the Saturday. The other danger came from Scratch, with Gus (Racing Kangaroo's) having solid performances all over the state of late, but first they had to bridge the minute gap to Charlie and Owen, which could prove sapping of the legs.
Up front, damage was done to limit by flyweight climber Terry Rossi that hurt the legs of Big Daz on the courses numerous short sharp hills. Behind them in the 8 min bunch, ever green hardman Mick Cain along with Brian, Steve and Ian could be seen doing good stong work, gauging their efforts on the taxing course and on the prowl trying to hunt down the men in front of them.
Out back, scratch and block made the junction at the top of the pinch at the back of Tallwood with Gus and Mick Troy pulling long strong turns to try and reel in Gascoyne and Macphilliamy as quickly as possible. With this quartet in motion, each pulling their weight in the bunch and working as a smooth team timetrial machine trying to reel in the bunnys infront of them. It is quiet an impressive bunch to have at a lowly club race, with ex-world champion on the track Gascoyne and still state A grade riding along with Tobin, Troy and Macphilliamy as leading riders generally combined in the state Block bunch. By the end of the first lap, second block were just in the boys sights and the knowledge that they had the firepower even in the windy sections to reel in all but the most detirmined of bunches.
Racing acoss the back, Macphilliamy was unfortunatly put off the back due to the echelons formed in the wind and having to sit in the gutter and collecting several pot holes. Strong riding saw him make the junction back on to the bunch as they picked up the second block boys after the Tallwood pinch. Then picking up ones and twos as the reminants of the bunch still up the road containing Cain, Marks and Kennelly but still hoping to make it to the front of the race to fight for line honours and fastest time.
Up front Kennelly made a move on the drag up to Forrest Reefs, going off the front to take the win from Cain and Marks.
Going up the long drag into Forrest Reefs, Charlie hit the front to keep the speed high leading into the finish sending all but Tobin, Troy and Roe off the back, and allowing Troy and Tobin to fight it out for fastest time. With 250m to go to the line, Tobin kicked with Troy glued to his wheel. Troy pulled up along side Tobin and got to within half a wheel of taking time but the detirmination of Tobin won through with the boys fighting all the way to the throw of the bike at the line and barely centimetres between elbows and hips in the desperation of the sprint, with speeds hitting over 55km/h even with the cross headwind finish.
|
Thanks to; |
|
Mark Tobin - Commissaire |
|
Charlie Gascoyne - Handicapper |
|
Richard Martin - Race approval and timekeeper |
|
David Van Shaik - timekeeper |
|
Alan Giumelli - corner marshal |
|
Mitchell Bland (and kids) - corner marshal |
|
Mick Cain - signs |
|
Karen Selmes - entries |
|
Results |
Rider |
Finish Time |
Actual Time |
Handicap |
|
1st |
Brian Kennelly |
1:10:01 |
1:00:01 |
8 |
|
2nd |
Mick Cain |
1:10:01 |
1:00:01 |
8 |
|
3rd |
Steve Marks |
1:10:01 |
1:00:01 |
8 |
|
4th + FT |
Angus Tobin |
1:12:29 |
0:54:29 |
Scratch |
|
5th |
Mick Troy |
1:12:29 |
0:54:29 |
Scratch |
|
6th |
Grant Roe |
1:12:36 |
0:59:36 |
5 |
|
7th |
Charlie Gascoyne |
1:12:46 |
0:55:46 |
1 |
|
8th |
Ian Reed |
1:13:05 |
1:03:05 |
8 |
|
9th |
Mason Manwarring |
1:13:51 |
1:00:51 |
5 |
|
10th |
Owen MacPhillamy |
1:13:51 |
0:56:51 |
1 |
|
11th |
Ray Selmes |
1:14:24 |
1:08:24 |
12 |
|
12th |
Andrew Foxall |
1:14:24 |
1:01:24 |
5 |
|
13th |
Nathan O'Brien |
1:16:22 |
1:10:22 |
12 |
|
14th |
Terry Rossi |
1:16:22 |
1:16:22 |
18 |
|
15th |
Darryl Grant |
1:19:06 |
1:19:06 |
18 |
Pictures from the day can be seen in Mitch Bland's online album: