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18.9.2011 Race
Line Honours For Larkin.
Club stalwart Ron Larkin used a combination of tenacity and experience to take a well earned victory on Sunday.
A smaller field was rewarded with perfect conditions and a great race ensued. Variables such as a magpie or two and a flock of sheep had an influence on the outcome.
Lone limit rider Maz Morley was making good progress had not been sighted when her chances were severely interrupted by a big mob of sheep on the road.
“Well you are in the country love” a farmer claimed.
Freshly crowned BSCC Open Elite winner Scott Townsend had the task ahead of him when the guest handicapper gave him a lone chase of 45 seconds to second scratch. Adam Smith Shaun Terry and Phil Cartledge took off like scolded cats making the chase as difficult as possible. They too lost time to the sheep and were surprised when they looked back and Townsend was not in sight. He was sighted on the corner talking to Doug Garley maybe describing how the race unfolded the day before.
The Larkin led bunch knew they had a chance off 18 minutes and there chances were further strengthened when big Peter Marquand was added to their group without penalty.
Marquand’s contribution was short lived when after feeling not that well he was out of the race due to a puncture. That left the improving Malcolm Rock, Larkin and the ubiquitous Greg Curnow.
On the last lap Curnow was shelled over the Weatherboard road and Rock and Larkin felt they could not afford to wait. They heard a noise as the Weatherboard magpie was attacking the lone Curnow. As it swooped –Curnow looked upward and met its eye and the magpie panicked and was not seen again! Maybe it will be confident enough to come back after the Grand Final!
There was some early money on the eight minute bunch that included the tenacious Ken Heres, the talented Dave Peters and Bob Morley. Peters struggled early but came good and although he was coughing and spluttering he put in some strong, long turns. This group was motoring and picked up Rob Parker and carted him back to his original bunch of Brett Caddy. Parker and Caddy helped when they could and they could see Curnow well in the distance but could not sight the leaders. They looked back to see the three minute group closing quickly. No wonder, with Rob Phillips back in the fold leading hard men Darren Terry and Richard Taylor and the sprightly Rick Calvert. Only one strong turn each from Brett Caddy and Ken Heres kept them away from the Phillips group by a mere ten seconds.
Meanwhile it was Larkin whose strength held off the improving Mal Rock to take a well deserved win. Greg Curnow rode his best race for some time to hold third from a fast finishing Dave Peters.
The fastest time contenders were storming at the line with Adam Smith and Shaun Terry going at it side by side from a long way out in a test of strength. As expected Adam Smith held Terry off to win by a wheel.
1-Ron Larkin 2-Malcolm Rock 3-Greg Curnow 4-Dave Peters 5- Bob Morley
Fastest time- Adam Smith
11.9.2011 Race
Large race day gallery HERE
Peter Howard Takes First and Fastest in Eureka Open.
It was a race that certainly had everything. Sleet, rain, high winds and even sunshine. 105 riders entered and about 70 hardy riders finished the event. The numbers were affected initially by a no show of 17 riders whom were concerned about the weather, and another similar amount were part of the attrition due to punctures and fierce riding of the bunches.
The race was a handicapping masterpiece by state handicapper, Col Hooper, who was thrilled as the bunches came together virtually in the last kilometre.
The scratch bunch was minimised early when Glen Scouller punctured early and local lad Scott Townsend found the going tough and was gone before Quarry Hill.
Being a light rider is normally an advantage, but Andrew Pascoe’s low body weight, coupled with deep dish wheelset, saw him literally blown off the road and out of contention. This should have made the task virtually untenable but they caught local hardman Doug Garley who chipped in and didn’t miss a turn.
So with the eventual winner assisted by murderous turns by Andrew “Bam Bam” Weightman, and help from Gary Parsons, Roy Clark and Justin Mollinson set about reeling in the field.
Further out the 10.30 bunch was pumping along with Warrick Bott, Kane Airey, Darren Terry, Dean Hayward and Craig Halliday sharing the load. They rode through the two bunches in front and added Bob Morley, Gail Oliver and Ian Ravenscroft to their midst. This bunch narrowed further to 5 or so and they sighted the leading bunch and were giving chase.
The leading bunch turned into the wind after the hairpin turn. Terry O’Brien was on the front into the strong head wind, doing most of the heavy lifting with Bernie Greally chipping in as well. Anne Gourley, Amanda Hosking, and Jacinta Welch were still there and were eying off the placings. Better co-operation would have seen this bunch get up. Just as the Kane Airey, Warrick Bott led bunch were looking good to make the capture, they were enveloped by the scratch bunch and anyone else that survived the onslaught. The field came together with a bunch of 20 or more riders. Gail Oliver jumped in an attempt to shake things up and the riders came to life.
Peter Howard took a well deserved first and fastest with Neville Laffy and Garry parsons filling the minor placings. Jeff McLean was fifth, Barry Jane rode well to take sixth place. Kane Airy sprinted well for 7th place with local legends Doug Garley and Peter Kiel 8th and 9th. Rounding out 10th place was time trialling specialist Andrew Weightman.
The wining bunch only averaged 37.5 which is indicative of the difficult conditions.
A great race that was supported by excellent facilities and food after the race. The marshals were out in force and did an excellent job.
See you all at the Geelong Open in a few weeks time and we will do it all again.
Winner and Fastest- Peter Howard
2 -Neville Laffey
3-Gary Parsons
4-Roy Clark
5-Jeff McLean
6-Barry jane
7-Kane Airey
8-Doug Garley
9-Peter Kiel
10-Andrew Weightman
Rod Hetherington Wins Mirabella Trophy race.
Rod Hetherington had a great weekend of racing winning on Saturday and then again on Sunday.
Once again, it was a well handicapped event, that was held in perfect conditions. Second scratch, for the fourth week in a row, stayed away from scratch and rode through the field. If having Bob Braszell, in recent weeks, wasn’t enough in the legend stakes, add a dash of Adam Smith and the bunch was going to be all go. Smith has not raced for ages and in true bike rider style was saying he has hardly done a thing for years. He proceeded to dominate his bunch and the race in general.
Steve Atkinson and Ray Hodgson were first away with a 34 minute advantage over scratch. Followed by Graeme parker and Shirley Hetherington.
The next bunch included the perplexing incoherent bunch riding of Greg Curnow and Gary Blood. They had a new rider added to their bunch, Nick Verhagen, to help out. Verhagen is a new rider and he struggled to understand the method the other boys were employing. They were doomed from the outset.
It was all happening toward the back of the field with the six minute bunch of Bob Morley, Brian Lee and strong man Darren Terry were making inroads to the eleven minute bunch. The eleven minute bunch was being lead by the never say die Gail Oliver backed up by big John Creek, Popeye Lee and Alan Barnett.
Morley, Lee and Terry had collected the bunch in front and then engulfed the bunch in front that included the hard working Larkin and the cagey pair of Wallis and Ferguson.
Thing were looking promising for this bunch with half working and half sitting on.
Then the comfort level took a major turn to major discomfort as Adam Smith stormed through on the inside doing 15 kay an hour faster than the bunch. He was 50 metres in front before every one woke up and by that time Smiths co-riders came through to offer a tow. With five kay to go, it was on ‘til the finish. The pace lifted in the home stretch, with Darrell Stewart hammering on the front a long way out. Riders were strung out behind waiting to see who was going to make the decisive move.
Shaun Terry exploded down the outside with Adam Smith on his wheel. On Smith’s wheel was renowned sprinter Rod Hetherington. Shaun Terry blew up and Smith went for it, but Hetherington continued his winning ways for a strong well judged win. Smith hung on for second. Third was Bob Braszell. I have run out of superlatives for Bob over the years. Fourth was Bob Morley and John Creek continued his good form with a fifth placing.
Scratch, once again had ridden bravely with Tony Mirrabella and Scott Townsend dispensing their bunch and went man o’ man in the sprint. Townsend hung on by a short margin as Mirrabella nearly took out Billy Goldfinch who was holding the chequered flag.
All the photos of the day Here
Post a comment on you tube about the race, only positive please. Here
21/8/2011
Richard Taylor - Too Strong.
Richard Taylor continued to show strong form by winning a contested sprint on the Hetherington circuit on Sunday.
Taylor is becoming the complete racer as he was asked how he was feeling prior to the race and he said that he would be lucky to make the distance!! Yep. No worries.
Once again for the third week in a row second scratch stayed away from scratch making a mockery of the chopping block status they generally hold.
Once again excellent handicapping saw a great race unfold.
Second limit Mandy Rhook and Ray Hodgson were rounded up on the second lap by a Larkin led 15 minute bunch they then caught and left the out markers, Maz Morley and Steve Atkinson in their wake. Larkin and Terry Collie performed a minor miracle by keeping Greg Curnow under control and kept him working in the bunch the whole race.
The six minute bunch of the eventual winner Taylor, Andrew Rushton, Bob Morley and Dave Peters were flying when the lost their strongest rider in Peters. He had grass in his eye and pulled out of the race. This made them vulnerable to the underrated 3 minute bunch. No bunch with Bob Braszell in it should be underrated. When you add the hirsute Darrell Stewart, the incredible Pippa Read and the boyish enthusiasm of Rick Calvert, you have a deadly mixture.
Good money before the race would have been on Scott Townsend, Tony Mirrabella, Doug Garley and Phil Cartledge as certainties to ride through the field but it wasn’t to be. They rode tempo and were happy to fight it out for fastest time. Mirrabella may be saving himself for next week’s trophy race!
The three middle bunches came together with a lap to go and the pace was on to catch the remaining 15 minute bunch. With Pippa Read using every opportunity to ride off the front, the pressure was on to keep up. John Creek Kevin Lee and Alby Govan showed they have improved and covered every attack with tenacious riding.
It took until the home straight ‘til Larkin, Collie and Curnow were reigned in.
Darrell Stewart had a couple of goes to see where the strength lay and he was covered each time. He found himself on the front with 500 to go looking back every 5 seconds waiting for “the move”. It wasn’t ‘til 100 metres to go, Richard Taylor, as usual, in the biggest gear available, went for it. He held it easily and Rick Calvert hung on for second and a surprise third place was big John Creek, who has been showing the benefits of some midweek training. Fourth was the indefatigable Bob Braszell and Bob Morley half a wheel behind for fifth.
A minute behind Scott Townsend predictably took out fastest time after an initial burst from Tony Mirrabella
1st Richard Taylor, 2nd Rick Calvert, 3rd John Creek Fastest time Scott Townsend
14.8.2011
Brad Fry Wins On Windmill
Brad Fry made amends for misjudging the finish line last week and took victory with a strong sprint.
The biggest scratch bunch for the year gave the eventual winning bunch 5 minutes but with Doug Garley a non starter and Shane Cody pulling out early to go to the movies, found themselves one minute short of the winning bunch.
Bob Braszell and Pip Read led the 5 minute bunch and were supported by last weeks’ winner Pete Livi, with Rick Calvert and eventual winner Brad Fry rounding out a very even group.
The 10 minute bunch fancied their chances with Alby Govan,
Bob Morley, John Creek and the Lee brothers working well. They took 2 minutes
out of the 14 minute bunch on the first lap but lost momentum on the second lap as the fourteen minute
bunch absorbed the 16 minute bunch that had already shelled Malcolm Rock and
Greg Curnow.
The
fourteen minute bunch set off at a great rate with Alan Barnett doing long
smooth turns. Ron Larkin, Jacinta Welch and the flu ridden Rob Ferguson
complemented Alan’s work and the bunch was humming. They caught the sixteen
minute bunch on lap two and Graeme Parker started working turns. Some riders
from the sixteen minute bunch fell away past the quarry and Fergie had
punctured. This left only Graeme Parker, Alan, Ron and Jacinta all riding well
with only half a lap to go and Mandy Rhook in sight.
Mandy Rhook was off 32 minutes and she caught and passed Maz Morley. She was determined to put up a good show riding her brand new Trek.
The Brad Fry led bunch captured the 10 minute bunch and continued on with people jumping on for the ride. Fry, Calvert and Read put in some strong attacks and thinned out the field considerably. The lone brave Mandy Rhook was caught in the home straight and that’s when the tactics began.
Nobody wanted to reduce their chances by leading the field home and the pace slowed. Jacinta Welsh flashed past with Larkin on her wheel and the sprint was on in earnest. They were brought back to the fold and the strong riders asserted themselves.
Brad Fry was strong and went over the line unchallenged. Legend Bob Brazsell was second with last week’s winner Pete Livi sprinting well for third. Bob Morley took fourth place with John Creek capping his improvement with a fifth place.
Scott Townsend continued his good form by taking out the fastest time.
1-Brad Fry 2-Bob Braszell, 3-Peter Livitsanis 4-Bob Morley 5-John Creek
Fastest time Scott Townsend
7.8. 2011
Livitsanis Takes a Well Earned Victory- By Bob Morley
After threatening for many weeks to take victory, Pete Livitsanis finally got the nod on a three lap smashfest around the Hetherington circuit.
With the regular handicapper away, I stepped in to set the field.
John Rhook and the in form Scott Townsend were the scratch representatives for the day. The field was book ended by Mandy Rhook was off limit and left the start line with a 25 minute advantage over her husband.
Malcolm Rock and Graeme Parker were chasing off 15 minutes and weren’t waiting for any one.
Greg Curnow Ron Larkin and Peter Marquand were off in pursuit.
Ron Larkin takes up the story………
Big Pete Marquand really fired up on lap two and he and I spat Curnow on the hill. Then we chased well together and bloody hard. Eventually seeing Mal Rock and G Parker and we caught them late into lap two.
The four of us then worked VERY well and the pace was good. As we speed down the Avenue on lap 3 after passing Mandy I said “We’ve got this one boys’. All of sudden Pete Livi and co went past at a frantic pace.
I got on for a while until Rick Calvert seen me there and promptly spat me on the hill. My four then continued on until the Lees and John Creek got us at the club house. We all got onto them for a bunch sprint over $5.00. John Creek said he could see us on lap two and was gaining until Terry dropped his chain. He waited for Terry and then was caught by the Lee brothers.
The 8 minute bunch of the Lee brothers, Popeye and Flyin’Bryan and myself were hammering along and were surprised to see the 4 minute bunch closing fast, and only on the second lap. They whacked us down past the piggery and the three of us and Terry Collie jumped on. Turning into the head wind the Lee brothers and I jumped in and did turns with the thought that this bunch had every chance of getting up.
I stoically did a long turn past the clubrooms and over the finish line with the bell ringing. I peeled off and was coasting to the back for a rest when Richard “Robocop” Taylor took off with a murderous turn of speed. I was gone and so were the Lee brothers. As they disappeared into the avenue they were back to the four originals of the group and going for it.
I could no longer see what was happening and the eventual
winner
Pete Livi takes up the story…………
We rounded up Mandy Rhook on the Weatherboard / Avenue corner, pretty game effort to be out the front of the race for almost 2 1/2 laps! Ron Larkin’s bunch was about 75m up the road, we left them dangle out the front until the bottom of the hill on the Avenue, we weren't planning on taking any prisoners. Richard, the destroyer of the Morley bunch, hit the gas towards the bottom of the hill and we blew their doors off at 50+, I took over from Richard to keep the pace up as we went up the hill, only Ron had the legs to grab hold of Rick's back wheel. Rick looked around, saw that we had a passenger, he was having none of that and almost sprinted up the hill - only the brave survived (which didn't include Ron).
As we rounded the Avenue / Henderson’s Road corner we had about 100m on them, and didn't see them again. Looking over our shoulder back up the Avenue we couldn't see scratch, but we knew they wouldn't be far behind. We kept the work rate high up the little rise to the piggery and continued round the corner into the wind towards home, working short sharp turns. The race was there for us to win (or lose), Richard and I were encouraging the lads to keep working "or Rhooky will get us".
Coming around the bend at the clubrooms Brad Fry jumped out of his seat thinking the finish line was at the clubrooms - Imagine his disappointment, as no checked flag appeared for him there. Richard thought Brad must be about to pinch the race and had to find a bit extra to grab his wheel in that futile and pre-emptive sprint. Rick and I thanked Richard for putting the collar on Brad and eased up behind him.
Richard got stuck out the front as Brad was spent and gone. Rick was feeling all the hills he'd dragged us up and didn't have much left in the tank.
Richard went for home about 250m out with me on his hammer. He was in too big a gear to get the acceleration he needed as, with 100m to go, I jumped up the outside (I waited until I could actually see the checked flag). Richard persisted and we duked it out, Richard mashing the 11 cog and me whirring away on, at most, the 14 cog. I got a wheel on him with 10m to go and held just long enough.”
The remaining interest was to see if scratch were going to capture fastest time as they still seemed a long way down.
John Rhook takes up the story
Rhook pulled up at the start line next to Darrel and Darren thinking they were off scratch with him and Scotty, after all Livitsanis had been gone for a minute and a half!! Then Darrel says you still have 2 n half minutes. A quick glance at Bill and Scotty confirmed this and Rhook thought Holly crap we’ll get slaughtered today!
Anyway no one paid much attention to Townsend’s talk about how bad he felt and how tired he was. After all he is a bike rider!! How many times have we heard that?
So Rhook shoots out of the gate, bolts down the road waiting for Mr T to come on by and he didn’t! A quick look around revealed he was off the back eventually Townsend builds up comes by to start work on the first lap. When Rhook rounded the corner on the avenue he looked back and knew Townsend wasn’t joking about his form. Scotty was 60 meters off the back! Even old Billy in the tail car was wondering what was going on. Rhook realising the futility of a lone chase waited for Townsend to “get on” and after that he took it easy on him ,J, until he warmed up. With the tail wind the big fella wound up and scratch were back in it. A solid chase ensued with Rhook doing the lion’s share of the work.
Scratch caught Second scratch (Darrel Stewart) down weatherboard Rd for the second time. Stewart jumped on and between them Townsend and Stewart could assist Rhook in the monumental 4 minute chase to the four third scratch riders. Entering the third lap there was still no sign of the fleeing third scratch bunch so it was nose to the handle bar to save fastest time.
It wasn’t until Charles’s piggery that the back markers finally started to pick up some dropped riders.
John Rhook did most of the heavy lifting as he belted out his fearsome time trial turns.
He surged as hard as he could to the finish and in a remarkable ride claimed fastest time.
This was a race that had everything including a worthy
winner.
1st - Pete Livitsanis
2nd - Richard Taylor
3rd - Rick Calvert
4th - Brad Fry
5th - John Creek
Race Report- Scratch Race 31st July
A Grade Scratch race
A field of 6 riders faced the starter,
these being Phil Cartledge, Rod Hetherington, Bob Braszell, John Rhook and
visiting riders from Bendigo club, Paul Volk and Darrell Stewart .
It was a fairly sedate start with all 6 working honest turns across the
quarry road, the only notable event was the clash of Rod’s front wheel and
Darrell’s derailleur. As the bunch turned into the wind on the back straight
Phil decided to test the riders’ skills by going up the very edge of the road
and remained there for the entire length of the straight!! As the riders turned
into the tail wind the pace went on and as they turned into Donovan’s Road,
Cartledge attacked hard out of the corner catching Braszell off the back. Bob
made a gallant effort to get back on but the hill finished his under done legs.
It was full steam ahead down the finishing straight and when the riders turned
onto the quarry road, Hetherington was gone.
After several attacks down the back straight Stewart was well off the front when the group
turned into Donovans Road the second time, again Cartledge drove hard up the
small climb and pulled the break away in. It was then a solid 11 cog down the
front straight which proved too much for Darrell Stewart and as we crested the
quarry hill it was down to 3. Cartledge attacked again down the back straight
proving to much for the last visiting rider and Rhook was the only rider left
able to hold the wheel .
After a
discussion about upholding the stature of the club against those ….visitors. It
was a solid last 5 K to the finish. Cartledge lead the sprint out and was too
strong for Rhook who was doing all he could just to stay on the wheel for 2nd
place, Paul Volk came in 3rd some 5 minutes down.
B Grade
A small but evenly matched bunch fronted the starters with the early money on Peter Livitsanis or Rick Calvert. Richard Taylor was un backable but had not one but two flat tyres before the start and was relegated to marshalling duties. An interesting addition the Michael Veal who set a new standard in warm ups when he wheeled his bike from his vehicle 10 metres to the start line announcing “ Warm up done!”
The bunch was well mannered and dropped into a rhythm of rolling over and sharing the load. It was only a matter of time before somebody shook up the monotony. It was Peter Livitsanis with the aid of the tail wind cranked it up and powered the whole way on the front. The rest of the field was strung out in a line like ducks wondering when he would back it off. Livitsanis won the nonexistent intermediate sprint and kept it going to the next corner. He swung off and thing got back to whatever normal is. Then low and behold he did the same thing the next lap. Lined out the whole field again and backed it off around the corner. He hadn’t finished with us yet and on blowhard road into the side wind he put us into the gutter and lifted the pace in a “Cartledge-esque “maneuver to sort the field out. However Phil Cartledge he aint and no –one suffered too greatly. Then we got to the tail wind straight on the irrepressible Livitsanis was on the front again!!As the finish line loomed, Michael Veal was on his wheel looking for the sit. However he was still copping a fair bit of breeze because he sits a lot higher than the diminutive Pete. The best sit in the house was behind Veal and that was where Bob Morley had parked himself. One of the pre race favourites , Rick Calvert was on Morley’s wheel and Brian Lee was sitting out in the middle of the road for no apparent reason.
400 out Veal’s experience and mind told him it was time to go. He stood up but his legs told him to sit down. He had cramped and all it did was alert Livitsanis that it was on. He committed and went all out for the line. Calvert jumped down the outside and thought he had the race won when the old stager Morley “Bobbed” up and powered down the outside to take a well judged victory.
Calvert hung on for second. Peter Livitsanis carved a new adage” Plenty of guts, no glory” to hold second and the Doc rolling over the line for fourth. Brian Lee was still in the middle of the road and came in fifth.
C Grade
Eight riders made up the C grade field with the attacks starting early in the race. John Creek who just continues to grow stronger every week dominated the attacks. Using the tail wind into Donovan’s Road as a launching pad on each lap he strung out the entire field out for several kms with even the most seasoned riders struggling to hold a wheel.
Ron Larkin dug hard on the quarry hill but
to no avail as all of the field were showing better form than him.
All eyes were on Steve Kanga Kennedy, who looked very comfortable though
out the race as did Kevin Lee who rode using his brain and holding off
any
attacks with ease. Jacinta Welch also cruised along with ease in the
male dominated group. Mal
Rock put in a rock solid ride and started the long sprint for the finish
far
too early. Kevin Lee and John Creek then opened up the pace and it was a
clear duel
between these two stronger riders of the field for first place. Lee took
the line honors just ahead of Long John Creek with Steve
Kennedy finishing comfortable in third place.
D Grade
D Grade was well represented and just to make things interesting Gary Blood missed the start and had to race to get back on. The bunch then rode together for some time which was a feat in itself with a group containing Greg Curnow and Gary blood. Alby Chapman was the first to go when the pace was lifted on Quarry hill. Shirley Hetherington was keeping the bunch in check until the main hill on the last lap when Blood had a rush of Blood and left the group to strike out alone. The others thought it was wise to leave him there for a while and worked turns to keep him in reach. But the harder they worked the more blood pulled away. Greg Curnow thought it was time to strike out on his own and tried to get across but found himself in no man’s land.
Gary Blood stayed away for an impressive victory and Curnow held on for second. The sprint was on for third when there was a touch of bikes between Shirley Hetherington and big Nick Verhagen. This worked in Verhagen’s favour and he was the third place getter
E Grade
E Grade was the M&M show as Maz Morley and Mandy Rhook fought out D Grade. They both rode well but it was Mandy that was too strong in her comeback ride to take victory with Maz Morley second.
24 July 2011
Cartledge Crushes Field in Emphatic Win
Phil Cartledge di his growing reputation no harm with a comfortable victory on Sunday at Learmonth.
The field was noticeably smaller because riders took too much notice of the forecast.
The riders that did turn up were rewarded with fine but crisp conditions.
Cartledge started off the scratch position and was joined by master handicapper Rod Hetherington. They had 45 seconds to make up on second scratch that consisted or Peter Livi, RivhardTaylor and Rick Calvert.
Hetherington led off for the first turn and Cartledge took over to attempt to close down the gap as quickly as possible. He twitched his elbow and waited , looked behind and Hetherington was 100 metres behind. Decision time. He took off on a solo chase with the likely hood that he was no chance. He did however catch the trio in front at the top of quarry hill in an exhibition of power riding.
Further out, the five minute bunch of Bob Morley and Kevin Lee fancied their chances as they quickly reeled in Ian Wallis and Terry Collie.
As they started the second lap and turned the first corner they were deflated to see riders coming quickly from behind. The backmarkers enveloped the bunch of four and only had to round up the brave Greg Curnow and the bunch was up. This was completed on quarry hill and Curnow was out the back.
Cartledge led them left after quarry hill and slowly increased the pace and put it down the road as well. Those that were hoping to be carted along were disappointed and Collie, Wallis and Lee found the going too hard and their race was over.
Cartledge continued on the front and swung off to give the also rans a chance to feel some wind. He must have been bored with the pedestrian pace as he got on the front and proceeded to ride every one off his wheel. Only the powerful Richard Taylor had enough juice to get across.
Morley, Livitsanis and Calvert were making ground when Cartledge went off the front again to burst everyone’s bubble.
The only option for the chasers to work turns behind him. They were making good pace, or so they thought, but Cartledge treated their combined efforts with distain and disappeared into the distance to score a very impressive victory.
The only interest was in the placings. Rick Calvert fancied his chances and went from a long way out. The others jumped, and it was Richard Taylor, pushing an inhuman gear, claimed second place. Peter Livitsanis rode well to claim third and Calvert tired but held fourth place.
17.7.2011
Townsend Wins Braszell Memorial Race.
Scott Townsend was the inaugural winner of the Charlie Braszell memorial race indifficult conditions on Sunday. Charlie was prominent in the cycling industry for many years involved in many aspects of the sport.
It was an emotional victory for Scott considering the late Charlie Braszell coached Scott’s father the late Peter Townsend.
The race was set by the handicapper with 46 participants making the start line.Marilyn Morley was first away and she rode by herself and was caught well into the race at the 45 kilometre mark. The back end of the field was pumping with Doug Garley Tony Mirrabella Peter Kieland eventual winner Townsend cutting a swathe through the field picking up the occasional helper and shedding riders to obscurity.The middle bunch was making great time with Alby Govan and Gail Oliver quickly taking time out of the bunch in front. Bob Morley fell off the pace and Alan Barnett just fell off.
There was plenty of interest in the out markers as Shirley Hetherington and big Nick Verhagen had caught Marilyn Morley and Steve Atkinson. Shirley Hetherington could sense Nick should go ahead because she was holding him back. Verhagen took off and was making great pace on his new Shogun and looked a likely winner. The scratch bunch had not faltered their pace and had picked up Dave Peters, Peter Livitsanis, Gail Oliver and Alby Govan. They still had not sighted the Flying Dutchman and it looked like he was home. He turned left into the final stretch of Weatherboard road. It was uphill and into the wind. It was only a kilometre to go but it was like someone had dumped a bag of wheat on his shoulders.Scratch hit him on the final rise with the race being on for line honours.
Townsend broke clear with hard man Doug Garley not far off him wrestling a bike with a brokenderailleur. The mercurial Mirrabella was third. Peter Kiel who never misses a turnwas fourth. Gail Oliver rode a tremendous race to be easily the first woman home.Nick Verhagen held on for tenth after winning the intermediate sprint at Erclidourne.
Rod Hetherington did a masterful job with the handicapping and the day was a greattribute to a man that was, and always will be, held in the highest of regard in the cycling community.
View all race day photos HERE
