28/04/2012
The wind was again a factor as Warragul Cycling Club members lined up for this week’s Handicap Race. A 30 km/h head wind along Parkers Rd meant Handicapper Shane Stiles was foiled by the limit riders last week so he had pulled them back this week.
Cazz Clarke, Adele Whelan and Matt Williamson started 17 minutes in front of scratch but would have their work cut out in the strong headwind. Cazz was unable to repeat her winning effort from a month ago and withdrew after a couple of laps.
Lou Clark, John Davine, Racheal Dawson, Danny Dilger, Xavier Prestcott, Greg Horbowicz, Paul Kennedy, Colin Manintveld and first time racer Charlie Pragnell were next away with 13 minutes on scratch. They never got together as Horbowicz flew off the start line splitting the group to bits before the first corner. Some semblance of order was maintained at the front as Dilger, Davine, Dawson and Prestcott worked together. The rest were on their own.
The 8 minute group were very confidence from the start. They felt they have the numbers and the strength to win it. Col Brown, Ross Henry, Andy Nichols, Graeme Patrick, Justin Prestidge, George Tambassis, Trudi Gallagher and Matt Kennelly would prove very hard to catch. They worked together beautifully on lap one averaging 37.1 km/h. If they could maintain this pace they would be very hard to catch. They slowed a little on lap 2 and also lost Gallagher and Prestidge but they still held their lead on the chasers easily.
The Neo Pros, Jayden Manintveld, Joe Patrick and Jack Walk were next away. With only 5 minutes on scratch, 3 riders and a block head wind along Parkers Rd, they were never a chance. The young lads had some good team time trial practice anyway.
The chopping block group with 3 minutes on scratch comprised Scott Keeble, Rob Monk, Jayman Prestidge, Charlie Davine, Geoff Thomson, Pete Whelan and Paul Yeatman. As usual Yeatman was off the back by the top corner on lap one but the boys waited as they know he will come good later on. Sure enough Yeatman got back on and did a power of work for the rest of the race. Jayman Prestidge was the only rider unable to keep up in this bunch. The chopping block group had the young fellows in sight on lap one and caught them on Lap 2. They also picked up Justin Prestidge and Trudy Gallagher who’d been dropped from the 8 minute bunch. With good numbers rolling through they thought they were a chance of staying away from the chasing scratch bunch.
Scratch kept it together this week. Stiles was more measured with his effort allowing Pete Finlayson, Phil Gallagher, Glen Marriot, Graeme Parker and Jason Laird to stay together for the first two laps. They completed Lap 1 averaging 39.3 km/h. The only casualty from the scratch bunch was Glen Marriot who found the pace a little tough and made it clear he wants back into the chopping block group next race.
By lap 3 it was clear the Ross Henry and Andy Nicols led 8 minute group were going to win. They had caught all before them. They shed first Tambassis then Kennelly but picked up useful helpers in Danny Dilger and John Davine who were able to stay with them to the finish. In the sprint big Andy Nicols put the power down and stomped away for the victory. Ross Henry, who had powered the group from the start, took second. Then followed Col Brown, Greame Patrick, Danny Dilger and John Davine. Matt Williamson had done well to hang on from the limit bunch to get 7th place overall. After a gap of nearly two minutes the fast men arrived on the scene. Thommo took out the bunch sprint for 8th from Pete Whelan. Graeme Parker took out 10th and fastest time. Then followed Shane Stiles, Rob Monk and Paul Yeatman.
Next week’s race is a Scratch race at Darnum starting a 2.00pm.
Scratch my back
- FINLAYSON
- GALLAGHER
- MARRIOT
- PARKER
- ROLLINSON
- STILES
3 – Chip on the shoulder
- KEEBLE
- MONK
- PRESTIDGE
- THOMSON
- WHELAN
- YEATMAN
5 – Neo-pro
- MANINITVELD
- PATRICK
- WALK
8 – Auld Warts
- BROWN
- HENRY
- NICHOLS
- PATRICK
- PRESTIDGE
- TAMBASSIS
13 – Pagoda Dragon
- BAILLIE
- CLARK
- DAVINE
- DAWSON
- DILGER
PRESTCOTT
Photos by Jen Davies
