This is the terrible two who made the trip over to Inverell yesterday (Saturday) for a 70 km handicap, fine and sunny but very windy, cross wind out and back, Zino finished 23 and yours truly finished, (enough said) rain and very foggy over the range both going over and coming home.
Broke the exhaust on the Toyota going over but thanks to great country people had it repaired after the race, Robyn was driving so I blamed her for it braking.

Regards
Alan Miller

Riders: Nathan, Troy, Liam, Numa

Troy rode with the lead pack for most of the race but the weather conditions of continuous rain saw the track conditions hard going.
Nathan finished 8th in the sprint finish. There race conditions were only a wet wet track no rain to speak of.

Weather was wet, rain, rain and more rain and racing still went ahead.

Sunday’s weather was much better for the Southern Cross Open.

Road Race

• 13B - Troy 2nd
  
• 15B - Nathan 1st
  
• Liam punctured in the first lap and rolled out with 15A. He kept with the pack for the race and finished with the middle pack.
  
• Don’t know Numa’s results.
  

Crit Race

• 13B - Troy 2nd
  
• 15B - Nathan 1st
  

Don’t know Liam and Numa’s results – we headed for home before they rode.

Thanks
Tracee

Stage 1 - Terrible Time Trial

It also gives riders the chance to ride for their club rather than themselves, which tends to lift rider's intensity, and provides wins for the club rather than just the individual. Last weekends 'Battle of the Border' held over three days was no exception with stand out performances from Glenn O'Grady, Sean Golding and the Jahnz Horse. Kudos to tour virgin Reece Edwards for some solid novice riding against strong opposition.

Elite C and Masters B combined with U17 riders for the weekend, and these races had the strongest Coffs representation with Sean, Reece and myself.

The first stage was a rough 8km time trial that placed us all middle of the table. The second stage was a very hilly 76k's and we all held it together with the bunch. Unfortunately, the race winner was 4 minutes up the road with a couple of super fit U17's, so as we sat in the bunch, our grade was being decided. Sean lagged behind on the final climb, but worked back on just in time to move through a big bunch to place in the sprint. Reece was in the mix, but not that keen to squeeze though the gaps.

Stage three was made for the sprinters with 70K's completed at a average of 40kph. Sean showed class to take third in the sprint, with about 20 riders on the same time as the winner.

The last stage was a crit held around a tight 800m residential estate. the pace was electric from the start. A big field was strung out immediately and the Commissaries started pulling out the laggards almost immediately, Reece being on the wrong side of the officials whistle. Sean managed to stay with the leading bunch, whilst I held up the chasing group from about 4th wheel.

And then my weekend turned to sh%t - some Hamilton Pine Rivers @#$head on a two week y.o. Trek and Zipps failed to take a tight right turn, came down right in front of me. I can remember everything from the incident, and I just had no time or space to move. I went over the top of the Trek dude, tucked my head under and slammed my left shoulder and helmet into the bitumen. I slid for a meter or so, and the waited for the following riders to add to my woes, thankfully none did.

My next thought was to get off the road, and when I got up I knew I had issues with my shoulder, a quick finger check revealing a too sudden end to my clavicle. So I went and laid down by the road and watched as chaos rained down around us. The first Aid guy called an Ambulance and set to work on the guy I rode over who was a bit of a whinger, though he was passing in and out of consciousness, and had skin off every panel. Then Sean won our race, well done. Then Race organisers started the Elite BE race, and wouldn't let the Ambulance on the course when it arrived, then another Hamilton Pine Rivers rider on a new Trek;

1. slammed into a protruding gutter on the same tight right hand corner about a meter from where I was lying and
2. had his fall broken by the back of the first aid guys' stationwagon, then,
3. slid down the back of the stationwagon onto the towbar with ball! Bedlam.

The ambo's eventually just drove past race officials onto the course, and the race continued around them and us. Insane.

Didn't get to see the Horse or Chizz in their crits, but apparently the pace was hot for them too.

Thanks to team members esp. gog for his help and perspective. Massive thanks to Gretel & Sue who cooked and cleaned, and to Dave the team mechanic who was never far from the fridge and racked up some impressive sleep hours.

Matt Vagg

A warm, sunny day greeted us to start the weekend.  Saturday comprised of two road races, while Sunday started with a wet and cold 4.6km time trial.  The weather cleared to allow a dry but cool road race.

Coffs Harbour was represented by U13 Troy Hardaker U15 Nathan Hardaker, Carla Westwood  and Alex Beedie U17 Liam and Numa Warburton.

Nathan finished 6th in the first race followed by some strong racing to finish 1st in the next three events.  This gave him an overall 2nd place finish for the tour.  Missing out on the yellow jersey by around 30 seconds.

Carla crashed in the gravel on the first race but got back on the bike to finish the race and the weekend.  Alex riding an updated Scott bike rode well showing more confidence with the bike and restricted gears as the weekend progressed.

Numa finished 5th overall.

Tracee Hardaker