Local cycling on Wednesday evening was the Hall Electrics Handicap on the Windellama Road. A big field of 28 rides signed on for the race.
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Starting at Brisbane Grove Road riders headed out on the 22km out and back course, which took them over the Gundary Plain and past the airport before a short climb up to the plateau and turnaround at Bullamalita Road.
Keen track rider Belinda Smith and Chris Bushell set off on limit with Fiona Berry and Ted Goad next to leave on two minutes with Bluey Emmerton, Peter Jackson and Tony Wade off four minutes.
Needing to make up five minutes and 30 seconds on the limit riders, the big C Grade group of Wayne Bensley, Nadine Moroney, Michael Hall, Alex Parlett, Chris Berry and David Carmichael had a plan to hold off the chasers with each rider pulling long turns at the front to allow maximum recovery time for those following.
If caught, those with fresher legs could jump on the faster group and hopefully be there at the finish.
Two minutes further back was the large group of experienced and veteran B Grade riders, led by Gavin Moroney and Keith Foley Chell, members of the group were quickly rotating lead riders with their first objective to catch the C Grade bunch.
Backing up from a successful Trackpower Carnival Paul Parlett led Andrew Stewart and Isaac Hogan off 8 minutes 30 seconds, with Glen Apps, Callum and Jacob Emmerton a further minute back.
Cameron Roberts was the sole scratch rider 10 minutes behind Belinda Smith and Chris Bushell.
Fiona Berry and Ted Goad were making good progress and passed through the turnaround in the lead. Hot on their heels was the C Grade bunch, who were the second group to round the turn, only to see the B Grade group charging toward the turnaround followed closely by Cameron Roberts. He had teamed up with the Emmerton brothers.
C Grade caught Fiona Berry and Ted Goad, but in turn were caught by a combined A and B Grade bunch. Cameron Roberts, Paul Parlett and the Emmerton brothers applied the pressure dragging Gavin and Nadine Moroney, Josh Daniel and for a brief moment Wayne Bensley with them.
The remaining B and C Grade riders, Angus Taylor, Mick Redman, Mark Stutchbury, Keith Foley Chell, Michael Hall, Wayne Bensley and Chris Berry set about chasing the leaders however, leading riders had too much of a gap.
With a kilometre to go Paul Parlett, Cameron Roberts, Callum and Jacob Emmerton opened up a break and jockeyed for position. Cameron Roberts used his strong time trial abilities opening up a small lead that he maintained to the finish. Callum Emmerton had tried unsuccessfully to bridge the gap on Roberts but finished second. Jacob Emmerton out-sprinted Paul Parlett for third.
Big thank you to the volunteers from the ever reliable timekeeper Mrs Bush, Chief Commissaire Phil Bush, traffic controllers Graeme Northey and Jim Spiers, Melissa Goad and Belinda Emmerton in the lead/follow cars.
Next Wednesday racing is at Breadalbane for the Acciona Gunning Wind Farm Team Time Trial. Sign on by 6pm at the Church and racing starts at 6.30pm. New riders welcome.
Results
Hall Electric Handicap, Windellama 22kms
- 1st Cameron Roberts (off 10:00) 40:16 43.6km/hr
- 2nd Callum Emmerton (off 9:30) 40:20 42.8km/hr
- 3rd Jacob Emmerton (off 9:30) 40:46 42.2km/hr
- Fastest Time: Cameron Roberts 30:16 43.9km/hr