Last week’s racing was the Barbeques Galore Range Road Handicap. Starting at Chinamans Lane, the course extended over the rolling hills to the turnaround at Lambs Lane. Ideal racing conditions with only a light breeze facing the 18 riders who signed on. The idea of a handicap race is to give everyone the chance to win the race with riders merging at the finish into a single bunch for the final sprint to the line. Club handicapper Glen Apps had been burning the midnight oil poring over the form of riders to ensure riders were place in the right group and the separation times between groups were sufficient for a mass finish.
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Belinda Smith and Fiona Berry set off first on limit followed by Ian ‘Bluey’ Emmerton and Peter Jackson off five minutes.
Five C Grade riders including recent winners Mark Stutchbury, Shannon Apps and Wayne Bensley were the third group away needing to make up 9 minutes 30 seconds.
Colonel Keith Foley Chell lead out the block riders on 12 minutes while Glen Apps took charge of the scratch riders needing to make up a massive 14 minutes and 30 seconds over the 20km course if they were any chance of a win.
By the Lambs Lane turnaround, Fiona Berry had dropped Belinda Smith and was maintaining a good lead over Bluey Emmerton and Peter Jackson.
Fiona continued to maintain a good pace on the return journey but riding solo was always going to be tough against the groups of chasers. Bluey Emmerton broke away from Peter Jackson who was in turn caught by C Grade riders Shannon Apps and Mark Stutchbury around the 15km mark.
Chasers Glen Apps, Andrew Stewart, Isaac Hogan and Mick Beard were making steady progress gradually hauling in the front runners. When the group combined with Keith Foley Chell and Gary Sheehy they must have been thinking they could make the catch. Unfortunately for them the front runners were just as determined to stay away.
Approaching Coopers Lane with 3km to the finish Fiona Berry continued to hold her advantage over Bluey Emmerton and by Baw Baw Road there was no chance she would be overtaken by any of the chasers. Rolling over the line, hands aloft, Fiona took out the win by almost two minutes over Bluey.
Peter Jackson, Mark Stutchbury and Shannon Apps had to be content with a sprint for third place with Mark narrowly taking out the final podium position.
In the large chasing group it was Andrew Stewart that emerged from the bunch to cross the line with the fastest overall time
Big thank you to the volunteers - timekeeper Mrs Bush, Chief Commissaire Phil Bush, traffic controllers Vince Dove and Andy Cartwright, Andrew Oberg and Chris Bushell in the lead/follow cars.
Next Wednesday racing is on Middle Arm Road for the Bryants Cafe Individual Time Trial. Sign on is opposite the cemetery by 6pm and racing starts at 6.30pm. New riders are always welcome.
Results
Barbeques Galore Range Road Handicap 20kms
- 1st Fiona Berry (off 0:00) 41:13, 29.1km/hr
- 2nd Ian Emmerton (off 5:00) 43:30, 31.2km/hr
- 3rd Mark Stutchbury (off 9:30) 44:39, 34.1km/hr
- Fastest Time: Andrew Stewart, 30:38, 39.2km/hr
