A Grade
A grade was an interesting and super competitive affair that had many attacks and breakaway attempts that were covered.
Main protagonist breakaway specialist was the inform Phil Cartledge whom lit the race up from the outset and let the group know it wasn’t going to be a nice roll around with a sprint at the finish.
Cartledge jumped out of the blocks and attacked up the first hill and quickly opened up a 300 metre lead. Generally this is not a problem but, such has been Cartledge’s form of late, his disappearing off the front could not be ignored.
Experienced gun, Adam Smith, was the first to try and jump across but found himself in no-mans landed he was absorbed by the field.
Former Pro Doug Garley attempted to cross as well but the result was the same. Tony Mirrabella was successful in getting across but as soon as anybody got to Cartledge he would attack again to test the mettle of the chasers. This was the pattern and the frenetic change of pace saw the demise of Ken Heres and Brad Fry.
Richard Taylor and Rick Calvert were off the pace at some stages but fought to get back on. Only the strong could survive Cartledge’s repeated efforts.
The race came together and it was going to be a contest to see who could survive the long climb up the Windfarm Hill. Tony Mirrabella the renowned climber was still there. The rangy Adam Smith was in contention. Peter Kiel was there as well.
Kiel has, over the years turned himself into a top rider, with precise preparation and attention to detail. But you cannot discount the toughness of this sporting legend. Just out of interest I entered the phrase “small frame but huge ticker” into Google Images, and the following image came up. No surprise really.
Doug Garley was still there along with Cartledge and Calvert. It was on for the long slog to the top. Mirrabella prevailed as one would expect but he didn’t have it all his way. Doug Garley was a close second. Rick Calvert was a surprise third. Nobody would have begrudged Phil Cartledge the race and he was fourth with Peter Kiel was fifth.
Great race in the spirit of what a scratch race can be and should be.
1-Tony Mirrabella 2-Doug Garley 3-Rick Calvert 4-Phil Cartledge
B Grade
Darren Terry was the Black Caviar of the field and was an unbackable pre race favourite.
He showed his strength on the second lap when he opened up a gap on the uphill run on Weatherboad road. No- one could go with him and it took until the left hand turn after the chicane that the field came back together. Brett caddy was well off the back and he looked like he was gone. But through determined riding, he re attached to the field in the avenue.
Terry was looking comfortable, and to use a motoring analogy he was ticking over like a slow revving V8. To continue the analogy, you would have to say that Brian Lee and Pete Livitsanis were rotarys. Brett Caddy could be described as a badly tuned V6 and Bob Morley could be likened to a 202.
Thing settled down and Darren Terry was looking ominous but behaving himself. That was until the hill on the fourth lap whereby he rode off the front and easily pulled a gap of 200 metres and he looked like he was going to go on with it in a solo effort. But he pulled up beside D Grade rider Ray Hodgson and slowed for a chat and a rest. The bunch regrouped and Pete Livi though it would be a good idea to counter attack. Yes it was a good idea-it just didn’t work.
The main bunch turned the corner to take on the long climb to the top. Darren Terry led the way with the diminutive Brian Lee stuck to him like glue. They quickly opened up a gap to Bob Morley and Pete Livitsanis who was on his comeback ride.
Darren Terry as expected pulled away from Brian Lee to take a deserved win.
The only interest in the race was the race for third and fourth. Leading to the last hill Bob Morley thought he had third place sorted and was enjoying the cheering and urgings of the crowd. What he didn’t realize that the cheering was recognising the late attack from Livitsanis. Pete Livi willed himself up the hill to take third place from the hapless Morley.
1-Darren Terry 2-Brian Lee 3-Peter Livitsanis 4-Bob Morley
C Grade
A field of six very in form riders contested the C grade event. Gary Blood rode very strongly for the entire race even over shooting a corner and managing to get back onto a field that was not waiting for anybody. Kevin “Popeye” Lee was being closely watched by his opponents as he had the ability to ride away from the group if not kept in check. The smooth as silk Alan Barnett was another contender who appeared to be cruising amongst the field. The bunch rode at a solid pace with everybody sharing the work and all looking lively. The cat mouse games started as the hill climb approached with Gary Blood and Kevin Lee out in front and the more experience Ron Larkin sheltering at the rear. As the group turned into the hill climb section Kevin Lee exploded out of the corner and up the hill winning by a several hundred meters. Ron Larkin followed him for a long lonely climb and finished very happily in second place. Jacinta Welch pulled away from the remaining field for third place ahead of Graeme Parker.
1-Kevin Lee 2-Ron Larkin 2-Jacinta Welch 4-Graeme Parker
D Grade
Ray Hodgson rode well to take out the D grade event. He rode strongly mostly by himself to take a well deserved victory
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