Club Criterium

Saturday 15 March 2014 Combined Club Criterium. Bikeline Racing hosted the day and the riders were greeted by a beautiful Autumn day. A balmy 27 degrees, slight NE breeze and clear blue skies. Perfect weather for racing. Fields were small in all grades with a number of riders heading to Mooloolaba for the weekend Tri carnival or saving the legs for the series kicking off at Crestmead on Sunday. To mix things up and keep things interesting, the Crit was run in the reverse direction to normal racing and on the 3/4 loop. Ridders reporting that it made for a completely different track and some very hard racing. Those that raced really enjoying the challenge of the course.

The juniors got the day started with a few new riders having their first race.

Ben Lingard lead home Nicholas Markey with Jacinta Sulivan and Caleb McCallum in 3rd and 4th respectively.

D Grade kicked off with 5 starters and a few new faces to racing.

One of those newbies in Simeon Griggs dominating and riding away for an easy solo win. The handicappers will surely be writing C grade next to his name for next race. Winning easy and wearing an Essendon Bombers jersey might have the Comms looking for a sample jar next time 🙂 2nd and 3rd was decided in a close sprint with Nathan (Ned) Murphy piping Suzy Byron for 3rd. Suzy did all the work for the last 3 laps, Ned claimed he was the new guy and was not sure were he was going.

1st Simeon Griggs (BL)

2nd Nathan Murphy (BL)

3rd Suzy Byron (BL)

4th Ben Laughren (BL)

C Grade had 12 starters in a very even bunch for the first half of the race. The pace soon ramped up just enough to pop a few off the back with 3 laps to go. A large bunch got the bell and Dave Egan from TCC was feeling very comfortable. Unfortunately his tyre was not so comfortable and he got a last lap flat. That’s racing. Peter Banaszek, the only HR rider in all grades, grabbed the win. 100% strike rate for the Rollers.

1st Peter Banaszek (HR)

2nd David Swann (BL)

3rd Bob Free (BL)

4th Tori Watson (BL)

B Grade started with 11 but should have been 12. If you turn up with your bike, you might need shoes, jersey, helmet etc. No names but his BL mates won’t let him forget. The group rode to the conditions for most of the race, a friendly stroll in the nice weather. Rod Lingard and Kent Bauer from TCC took turns on trying to make it hard, especially on the uphill to the finish line. This was enough to pop a few out the back but a large group greeted the bell and stayed together until the last corner. Eveyone was digging deep but it was the Accountant, Matt Sander, counting the winnings with Nathan Sander pipping Jacobus Van Hoof on the line for a Sander quinella.

1st Matt Sander (BL)

2nd Nathan Sander (BL)

3rd Jacobus Van Hoof (BL)

4th Kent Bauer (TCC)

5th Tom Galbraith (BL)

A grade had a small field of 6 with the handicappers posting new gradings. Not all riders were happy with the new gradings, but those who started made the most of the opportunity to test themselves at the higher level. The riders warmed the legs for a while with the first few laps looking like a training ride pace line. Matthew Simonelli from Balmoral Cycling Club was driving the pace each time he got on the front. Unfortunately this proved a bit much for fellow “visitor” Tony Simonelli from Ipswich and he raised the white flag and dropped off the back. Turns kept being swapped until the bell when Seb Scott took off like a scalded cat and soloed to the line for a comfortable win. Fellow TLD team mate Trent West was the best of the rest with Pedr Harvey completing the podium in his first A grade race.

1st Seb Scott (BL)

2nd Trent West (BL)

3rd Pedr Harvey (BL)

4th Matther Locker (TCC)

A big thanks to all riders and to the Commisaires for volunteering their time. The next race on the calendar is a road race at Goombungee on 6 April 2014 hosted by TCC. Don’t forget ride the range on Sunday 30 March 2014. All upcoming events can be found on the calendar @ www.bikelineracing.org/calendar