The skies may have been blue but icy conditions kept the numbers down with only B and C Grade riders competing. Still there was a carnival style atmosphere over the pelaton with competitors happy at long last to return to racing on local courses.

The undulating course is essentially a steady climb out to Mount Peddlar before a fast descent to the turnaround at the Middle Arm Community Hall.

Due to the small numbers all riders started together other than Chris Berry who for some unexplained reason completely missed the start. Perhaps he is going deaf in his old age!

The steady climb to the fire shed was taking its toll as the field started to break up into groups of one and two riders. By the turnaround Callum Emmerton and Jason Pattison had opened up a handy lead from the chasing Shannon Apps and Isaac Hogan.

The gaps between the groups continued to be stretched out on the return climb up Mount Peddlar. Phil Hansen was losing ground on Mick Redman and Andrew Stewart and Gavin Moroney, who was briefing leading solo at one stage, had tailed off to the rear of the B Grade field just ahead of Phil Champion.

Once over the top of Mount Peddlar there was no catching Callum Emmerton and Jason Pattison as they both worked together in the run to the finish line. Over the final two climbs after Campbells Lane it was the more youthful legs of Callum that prevailed this time.

The battle for third continued to be tight but the stronger sprinting skills of Shannon Apps relegated Isaac Hogan to fourth. Further back Mick Redman managed to shake off Andrew Stewart and opened up a gap while Phil Hansen fought back to catch Andrew.

In C Grade it took Chris Berry 35km to catch Kylie Brooker. Over the final three climbs it was the sprinter verses the climber. Still together on the final climb Chris was fading and Kylie attacked moving into the lead.

But in one final effort Chris opened up the afterburners to lead out the sprint to the line. Chris’s cycling ‘rope a dope’ had paid off this time but I’m sure Kylie won’t fall for that one again.

The clear blue skies tricked Michael Beard and Wayne Bensley into thinking it was still summer season as both turned at the fire shed hill and returning to the finish line attempting to claim first and second place.

Big thank you to the volunteers who braved the icy conditions - Phil Bush, Mrs Bush, Lavina Huggett, Nadine Moroney, Bluey Emmerton, Jarrod Coveney and Andrew Oberg.

No local racing next week as riders head south for the Wagga Classic weekend. Good luck to all the Goulburn riders competing.

Results

Fred McClelland Constructions Graded Scratch Races

B Grade

1st           Callum Emmerton            1:10:31

2nd          Jason Pattison                   1:10:39

3rd           Shannon Apps                   1:13:53

C Grade

1st           Chris Berry                          1:22:00

2nd          Kylie Brooker                     1:22:01