Perfect conditions for racing on Friday night at the velodrome, hardly a breath of wind and threatening rain cooling down an otherwise warm & muggy day.
A slow start filled out with riders forgoing the 6.30pm warm up, choosing to get straight in to it at 7pm. With only a week to go before club champs, riders were keen to make sure their preparation was on track, and that their opponents were in check.The first race of the night was the junior 3 lap scratch, Troy Hardaker showing that he can ride 1,000 meters to beat Ethan Berends, Port rider Mitchell who gave away a bit of experience on the track to the local youths, with Alissa Saward gallant in third. Speaking of which, is there anyone keen to race against Alissa? Taking on the older boys won’t hurt her development, but it probably gets a bit mundane. Anyone?
In the opening senior race, improving Steve Sloan monstered his big gear past Richard Berends to take the 6 lap scratch with Matt in third. Kudos to Peter Wheatly who had his first decent swing at track riding, and should start to figure in the results with more experience. A nod also to Emma Richardson who races the blokes each week, what about a few other senior women stepping up to make a race of it?
To give each rider a fighting chance the junior 3 lap handicap pushed Alissa (u10) out to 150m, Mitchell at (u13) at 30m, Ethan (u13) at 10 and Troy Hardaker (u15) from scratch. It took some time, but Troy and Ethan did catch Alissa, finishing in that order with Mitchell in fourth. Once Mitchell gets the hang of handicap racing (go hard) and becomes more familiar with his opponents (find a good wheel) I think he will start to figure in the results.
The Senior Elimination (sprint every 2 laps) again went to Richard Berends, pushed all the way by Steve Sloan, the two riders relegating Alistair to third at the bell.
The juniors raced a handicapped elimination, with Alissa rolling out the front and the boys starting from the line. Mitchell missed the start so was the first one out, Alissa doing enough to stay in for another lap to take third, Troy getting Ethan for first place.
The senior 4 lap handicap proved just as interesting, with riders stretched out to the furlong. (you can google that one kiddies) Richard Berends paid the price for his excellent form of late taking up scratch, Steve Sloan seeing the results of his first up win to start on 10m, generously on 10m was Matt, master blaster Alistair Lane on 20m, Peter Wheatly on 50m, Emma Richardson on 100m, and the handicappers favourite Col Makinson (the Macksville Flyer) out of sight on 120m. Tough to recall now what actually happened, especially what was going on behind me, but I remember Alistair did start well, and proved a handy wheel for the first lap, the outmarkers worked well together and took another lap or so to track down, I think I took the bell in front, but knowing that Richard Berends was chasing, I was not game to turn around to have a look. Fear is a great motivator! Rich did come past me after the finish, so I don’t doubt that he was ever far away, Peter Wheatly showing some form to come home in third.
The second junior handicap saw Alissa pushed out to 250m, Mitchell at 80m, Ethan copped a tough one at 10m, and Troy again on scratch. Alissa proving too strong from Ethan, Mitchell and Troy.
Always a highlight is the Italian Pursuit, the back straight riders, led out by Mitchell, followed by Col, Troy, Emma, Alistair & Matt at the back. On the home front Richard Berends bookended the team with a ride on the first lap and the last, his team in order were Alissa, Ethan, Peter, and Steve. As is often the case the racing was very tight right up until the end, the Back Straight team getting up by half a wheel. Well done to all the juniors who seem to lift a gear when they have the seniors breathing down their necks!
Senior riders then jumped on the track for a quick motorpaced 20 laps, Geoff Hardaker kindly piloting the postie at an ever increasing speed. Things really started to heat up with mile to go, gears starting to spin out, legs starting to dictate at the end of a busy night. Richard Berends proved too strong when Geoff eased off with 500m to go, outpacing Alistair with Matt in third.
Many thanks to those that helped out on the night, Geoff & Tracee Hardaker, Col Makinson and to the kids who turned the lap numbers at the end.
Pssst - Where did 2011 Milan – San Remo winner Matt Goss get his speed? The 2005 Team Pursuit World Champs bronze medallist and 2006 Team Pursuit World Champion got it at the velodrome of course! Also great to see Graham Lockett out and about on the weekend, no crutches, no limp, and not too far away from Bruxner reps!Junior Club Championship event to be run on Tuesday 22nd March – that’s tomorrow. Senior events to be run on Friday 25th, any events not completed will be run the following week.
Cheers Matt Vagg
In the opening senior race, improving Steve Sloan monstered his big gear past Richard Berends to take the 6 lap scratch with Matt in third. Kudos to Peter Wheatly who had his first decent swing at track riding, and should start to figure in the results with more experience. A nod also to Emma Richardson who races the blokes each week, what about a few other senior women stepping up to make a race of it?
To give each rider a fighting chance the junior 3 lap handicap pushed Alissa (u10) out to 150m, Mitchell at (u13) at 30m, Ethan (u13) at 10 and Troy Hardaker (u15) from scratch. It took some time, but Troy and Ethan did catch Alissa, finishing in that order with Mitchell in fourth. Once Mitchell gets the hang of handicap racing (go hard) and becomes more familiar with his opponents (find a good wheel) I think he will start to figure in the results.
The Senior Elimination (sprint every 2 laps) again went to Richard Berends, pushed all the way by Steve Sloan, the two riders relegating Alistair to third at the bell.
The juniors raced a handicapped elimination, with Alissa rolling out the front and the boys starting from the line. Mitchell missed the start so was the first one out, Alissa doing enough to stay in for another lap to take third, Troy getting Ethan for first place.
The senior 4 lap handicap proved just as interesting, with riders stretched out to the furlong. (you can google that one kiddies) Richard Berends paid the price for his excellent form of late taking up scratch, Steve Sloan seeing the results of his first up win to start on 10m, generously on 10m was Matt, master blaster Alistair Lane on 20m, Peter Wheatly on 50m, Emma Richardson on 100m, and the handicappers favourite Col Makinson (the Macksville Flyer) out of sight on 120m. Tough to recall now what actually happened, especially what was going on behind me, but I remember Alistair did start well, and proved a handy wheel for the first lap, the outmarkers worked well together and took another lap or so to track down, I think I took the bell in front, but knowing that Richard Berends was chasing, I was not game to turn around to have a look. Fear is a great motivator! Rich did come past me after the finish, so I don’t doubt that he was ever far away, Peter Wheatly showing some form to come home in third.
The second junior handicap saw Alissa pushed out to 250m, Mitchell at 80m, Ethan copped a tough one at 10m, and Troy again on scratch. Alissa proving too strong from Ethan, Mitchell and Troy.
Always a highlight is the Italian Pursuit, the back straight riders, led out by Mitchell, followed by Col, Troy, Emma, Alistair & Matt at the back. On the home front Richard Berends bookended the team with a ride on the first lap and the last, his team in order were Alissa, Ethan, Peter, and Steve. As is often the case the racing was very tight right up until the end, the Back Straight team getting up by half a wheel. Well done to all the juniors who seem to lift a gear when they have the seniors breathing down their necks!
Senior riders then jumped on the track for a quick motorpaced 20 laps, Geoff Hardaker kindly piloting the postie at an ever increasing speed. Things really started to heat up with mile to go, gears starting to spin out, legs starting to dictate at the end of a busy night. Richard Berends proved too strong when Geoff eased off with 500m to go, outpacing Alistair with Matt in third.
Many thanks to those that helped out on the night, Geoff & Tracee Hardaker, Col Makinson and to the kids who turned the lap numbers at the end.
Pssst - Where did 2011 Milan – San Remo winner Matt Goss get his speed? The 2005 Team Pursuit World Champs bronze medallist and 2006 Team Pursuit World Champion got it at the velodrome of course! Also great to see Graham Lockett out and about on the weekend, no crutches, no limp, and not too far away from Bruxner reps!Junior Club Championship event to be run on Tuesday 22nd March – that’s tomorrow. Senior events to be run on Friday 25th, any events not completed will be run the following week.
Cheers Matt Vagg
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