01/09/2007
Spring was in the air and so was that savage Magpie at the top of the Shady Creek Hill. A beautiful day greeted cyclist who were keen to race. Numbers were down a little on previous weeks though, at many decided to do some spring gardening rather than have a race.
A grade and B grade started together and Chris Beales, Mark Oakley-Browne and Jim Timmer Arends set the pace up first of three ascents of the Shady Creek climb. They continued to set a solid tempo on the descent and B grade quartet made up of Paul Yeatman, Rob Monk, Trevor Rollinson and Callum Barker had to push hard to stay with them. Paul showed discerning leadership when he decided to let the A graders go at the beginning of Stur’s Road. They soon motored on ahead and out of sight. Big Jim punctured on lap 3 and in a sporting move Beales and Oakley Brown stopped and helped him change the tyre. They then allowed Jim to time-trial them to the line where Bealsey took the sprint from Jim with Mark in third spot.
The B grade boys used the second and third laps to recover from the 35km/h average speed on lap one. Callum Barker was keen to force the pace at every opportunity but Paul Yeatman would not let him get too far away. The field stayed together for the final sprint. Trevor Rollinson was the first to really wind it up in the run to the line but Yeatman sat comfortably on the front looking over his shoulder, having all his opponents easily covered. He won easily with Rob Monk in second and Trev in third.
The C grade field was the largest of the day. Neil Walker and Gordon Foster were too strong for the bunch. Wayne Tunks took third spot from Paul Kennedy, Dave Axford, Tammy Patrick, Geoff Gatt and Pam Benstead.
The juniors raced over one lap. Joe Patrick was the most aggressive rider frequently attacking trying to break away from his sister Renee Patrick. Cy Monk was content to let Joe go and use up his energy. In the sprint Cy took the race from Renee with Joe in third spot.
Racing next week is a scratch race at Darnum.
