The tarmac was wet and skies overcast, but the rain held off.

It was only a short event, doubling as the practical assessment for the club’s newest traffic controllers.

D Grade riders Fiona Berry and Craig Johnson got proceedings underway follow three minutes later by Alex Parlett and Tony Wade.

At five minutes, Phil Hansen, Wayne Bensley, Nadine Moroney, David Carmichael and Chris Berry started out, while the big hitters Glen Apps, Paul Parlett, Callum Emmerton and Gavin Moroney made up the scratch bunch, seven minutes back from the front runners.

Phil Hansen, leading the five minute group, was closing in on the front runners at the turn. Nadine Moroney dropped a chain shifting gears through the turnaround ending her race and Chris Berry was unable to hang on, again on the short climb back to the rail bridge. 

Phil Hansen, Wayne Bensley and David Carmichael pressed on catching the front runners just as they had descended off the range. Craig Johnson managed to catch a wheel and was happy to have the faster riders drag him toward Poplar Straight.

Entering Poplar Straight Phil Hansen applied the pressure and powered away from the group opening up a handy lead. The scratch riders of Callum Emmerton, Glen Apps, Gavin Moroney, lead by Paul Parlett caught the remnants of Phil’s group as they tried in vain to close the gap. Wayne Bensley and Craig Johnson tried to hang on but the big guns eased ahead in the run to the church. 

The chasers had Phil Hansen in their sights but he hung on for a four second win over Paul Parlett with Gavin Moroney a further five seconds back. Paul was rewarded with fastest time.

The second ride of the day was a ‘no drop’ race with the peloton riding out to the turnaround at Muttmuttbilly for the final of the traffic controllers assessment.

Everyone read the script other than the three nameless riders who could not help themselves but finish with a sprint to the church. The handicapper was watching and no doubt will be looking at the winter grades and handicaps for these three very closely!

Thanks to  the volunteers: Brian, Steve, Graeme, Rod, Grant, Mick, Anthony, Jacko, Mick, Mrs Bush, Jazzy, Phil and Kath. 

On Sunday, March 27, several Goulburn riders headed up to the Southern Highlands for the Bowral Invitational. Wayne Bensley took out E Grade, while Cameron Roberts finished third in the Elite Men’s.

Next weekend riders head to the Blayney to Bathurst.