After waking up Saturday to rain that more or less stayed around for the full day, it was looking touch and go for the race on Sunday. But the race gods were on our side and apart from a few scattered showers the weather was kind to all 73 riders who were very keen to start the first road race of the season.
D GRADE 15 Riders 1 lap
A good number for D grade with a couple of juniors in the group and a big shout out to Dinah Haswell for her first hit out racing. There were a couple of stand out people one of them being junior Ben Lingard with a very good effort managing a very respectable 6th place finish and Megan Stevens finishing just off the pace with a very good sprint for the line in 2nd place.
1st Stephen Dummett
2nd Megan Stevens
3rd Lindsey Tierney
C GRADE 22 Riders 2 laps
A fantastic turn out again for C grade. This was like the YOUNG V’s OLD with a very mixed bunch of ages to compete for the win with Harvey Silk and Gabby Vainikka of TCC being the youngest and Charlie Bennett and Phil Leydon of Bikeline being the oldest of the competitors to take on the 2 laps of the 21km circuit of Boodua. The bunch stayed together for the first lap but the pace was too high in the second lap with a small break establishing of 5 riders who managed to stay away to the end. The race experience of Peter Higham marshalling the group to work together combined with the efforts of the 2 junior racers of Harvey Silk and Mitchell Hawley.
The break away finished with a very close bunch sprint. Great racing.
1st Graham Orchard
2nd Mitchell Hawley ( under 17 )
3rd Richard Bonner ( traveled from Stanthorpe this morning ) worth the drive Richard !!
4th Harvey Silk ( under 15 )
5th Peter Higham
B GRADE 25 Riders 3 laps
The pace was on from the go, with strong head winds and cross winds it wasn’t long into the first lap that the peloton was being ripped apart with the efforts of James Orchard and Wes Keep. The break away was formed and the devastation to the peloton was a break of around 6 riders and the fantastic effort of Malcolm Krahenbring to bridge across to the group who all managed to stay away until the end and Malcolm went on to win the sprint finish quite easily.
1st Malcolm Krahenbring
2nd Dean Russell
3rd Joe Millican
A GRADE 11 Riders 3 laps
This race was the Team TLD boys against the Eclipse BMC ( smurfs ) boys. Could the TLD boys manage to dispose of Darren Rolfe and Hayden Brooks. It wasn’t to be, but listening to them both talk about Peter Collins at the end of the race it sounds like they had their hands full trying to shake him from the break of 3. Great effort Pete, keep up the good work !!
Some good riding from Trent West (Bikeline) and Dan McPherson. Well done boys.
1st Hayden Brooks
2nd Darren Rolfe
3rd Peter Collins
A big thank you to all the volunteers and Glen Trussel for commisairring
Thanks to all the riders for turning out for some great racing and the Platinum Juniors support team for the hot cups of tea and cookies.
Thanks, Dave Silk.