31/03/2012
Handicapper Shane Stiles has been petting over his spreadsheet all week. His pre-race entry system meant he could work the Handicap groups to be as even as possible. His time was not wasted as the first handicap of the season nearly all came together at the finish.
The limit group comprising Cazz Clarke, Colin Manintveld, Frank Benstead and Michelle Scurr started with 20 minutes lead on scratch the scratch bunch. They kept it together for two laps but on the run to the corner it was clear that Cazz Clarke and Col Manintveld were stronger on the climbs.
Terry Kelly used all his experience to coach the 12 minute bunch comprising Kelly, Rachel Dawson, Louise Clark, Xavier Prescott, Andrew Gordon and Matt Williamson. Kelly had his bunch rolling turns from the start losing only Andrew Gordon before the end of lap 2.
The largest group of the day with 9 riders started 6 minutes in front of scratch. Jayden Manintveld, James Blythe, Matt Kennelly, Graeme Patrick, George Tambassis, Murray Campbell, Roger Bell, John Taylor and Nick Copeland didn’t exactly team well together.
They quickly started to lose riders. By the end of lap 2 they had lost Bell, Taylor, Blyth and Copeland. They were always going to be caught.
The experienced chopping block bunch knew that having numbers along Parkers Rd was crucial to success. The block head wind meant the group that kept their numbers together would prevail. With only 3 minutes head start on scratch there was little margin for error. They started with Rob Monk, Joe Patrick, Geoff Thomson, Jack Walk, Neil Walker, Leigh Hauxwell, Glen Marriott and Paul Yeatman. Only Jack Walk was not there at the finish.
The scratch men started with 6 riders but didn’t keep them long. Shane Stiles, Brett Rollinson, Shane Stiles, Clem Fries, Scott Keeble and Cy Monk flew around the first lap in 17:30 seconds taking 1 minute 15 seconds out of the chopping block group. At this rate they would catch on lap 3 of four. The pace was too high though and Rollinson and Keeble were dropped early in lap 2. Eventually Stiles let up on them but only Cy, Pete Finlayson and Clem Fries were left to work with him and after 3 laps Finlayson was done with as well. The scratch men actually lost time to the chopping block group on lap 2. They had not timed their run well.
The limit group split at the beginning of the final lap with Cazz Clarke leaving Col Manintveld and going on her own. She’d have to hold off the chasers for 10km on her own to win.
The chopping block group caught the 6 minute bunch at the end of lap 3 then reeled in the 12 minute group early on the bell lap. A bunch of 14 riders were now chasing the limit bunch. First they caught Scurr then Benstead. Near the end of Parkers Rd they flew by Col Manintveld. Rounding the home corner only one rider remained to be caught.
The scratch group were unable to catch so they would not figure in the finish.
Cazz Clark would not be caught. In a very strong ride she held off the dozen riders in the chase group to take the victory. Cazz took the victory by just under a minute.
In the sprint for second Glen Marriott went from 500 meters out and held off the chasers all the way to the line. He was super strong all race and is in good form. Neil Walker finished third. Then followed Leigh Hauxwell, George Tambassis, Paul Yeatman, Joe Patrick, Rob Monk, Jayden Manintveld and Terry Kelly.
