Junior Dirt Crits - Monday 14 November
What a great night Monday was!
The new format worked beautifully (Kate and I are loving it) and it looked like the kids all had fun. A great big THANK YOU for everyone reading their emails.
We started off with the Sprocket Rockets at 4pm. There was some great riding including a couple of spills. Ben Ross was a little trooper after his tumble, he brushed himself off and kept going, well done!
Chloe Campbell rode beautifully with her confidence brimming leading the crew home in 1st followed by Thomas Day and Josh Taylor.
Mahalia Roche, determined as always, came in 4th but watch out next week, she has a new bike with gears! We might need some armour for her!
The Chain Gang was on the go next at 4:30, most of this crew stuck out four big laps of Bogans Beginnings so it will be great to see how they go next week with their times. We may even start a handicap!
Charlie Hall smashed it when he mastered the ramp on his fourth lap. Taz Leatham also pulled out all the stops this week and finished, stacks and all. Finn Baker hooned through the course and came home 1st followed by Madison Smith and Ethan Nealon.
The Trail Blazers all powered through their bigger loop four times with Kevin Gannon coming in 1st followed by Zac Empey and Max Campbell. Also a great effort by Charlie Dobson who had a mechanical breakdown on his third lap but managed to swap bikes and still finish in 4th. Thanks for lending him your bike Selina!
We are really proud of how all the kids conduct themselves. They look out for each other, aren’t afraid to have a go and are respectful. Great job mums and dads!
Keep in mind the 12th of December will be the Delatite Dash. We may need parents to shuttle bikes and kids as the trailer cannot hold 40 bikes. We will also have another skills night, perhaps at Botanic Park, but we will keep you in the loop when we get the date for that one.
Just quietly we’ve also got a kids Dirt Critters Jersey in the pipeline! (bit excited) Stay tuned for more details on that one…
Don’t forget to bring a drink bottle to keep hydrated as the weather warms up!
See you next Monday.
Cheers,
Clarissa & Kate.
The Coombesberg - Thursday 17 November
In the seventh race of the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club Spring-Summer road series, 25 riders showed up to enjoy the spring sunshine and tackle the 29km course. From the Botanic Park, all riders (minus Darren Bakker who forgot his rear light) headed out the Whitfield road to Sawpit Gully Road, before turning around heading to the finish line positioned atop the famous summit of Coombes 'The Coombesberg' Hill.
Bella Macmunn kicked off proceedings, 22 minutes before the lone Scratch rider in "Juggernaut" Josh Hopwood - who, just quietly, is in pretty good form. With all racers on the road and working hard, the group of Jarrod Appleton, Tom Macmunn and Aaron Peterson merged with the swift riding Bruce Halket, Mauro Brega and Luke Olver somewhere near the tomato farm. This group would later come oh so close to sweet, sweet victory.
Just up the road, Tim Ross, Dave Moore, Anthony Plummer, Damian Grundy and Rob Skinner were plowing through the rest of the field. Grundy was unlucky to have a mechanical and drop out, while the others kept it tight up until Barwite Road.
Meanwhile the juggernaut had caught Dan Purcell who was off Block. Mirroring last week’s race, Purcell then proceeded to stare at the back wheel of Hopwood for the best part of 20kms.
At the base of The Coombesberg and the action end of the race, only Skinner and Ross were left out front, while the merged Brega/Appleton group powered up the hill behind them. Halket hit the hill and halted, while Peterson and Appleton accelerated and left the rest behind.
But in the end, nobody knows The Coombesberg like Tim Ross, who powered to victory just a couple lengths clear of Rob Skinner. Agonisingly close behind, Peterson took third, Appleton fourth, and Gus Muscara rounded out the top five. Janine Appleton had a great ride to place sixth, and win first unplaced female.
The “Juggernaut” had the fastest time overall.
Kudos to all the volunteers who made the race possible. Here are the results.
The Spring-Summer series heads to Howes Creek Road next week. Remember, race entries to John Eisner by 8pm the night before. And Darren, remember your light!
Finally, the entire MMBCC would like to wish Rod Manning a speedy recovery following his cardiac scare last week. Take it easy, mate.
Many thanks to Tony Copland for the photos of this week's road race. They include: 1. The 8-minute group on the way out and Bocky obviously needs to do his laundry; 2. the 6.30 group, Allan Gerrans leads Will MacDonald;
3. the 4-minute group with Damian off the back and Tim showing off his new helmet; 4. Rob Skinner looking stylish; 5. proof that Dan actually did do a turn once Josh caught him; 6. the 8-minute group on the way back;
7. Tim Ross goes to the front; 8. Tom Macmunn leading the chasers; 9. Dan looking a bit shocked that he was sprung following Josh; and 10. Tim leads the top 5 to the finish.
Club storage shed
With many thanks to David Jagger, Tim Hall, Will MacDonald, Jason Parker, Damian Grundy and Bruce Halket, the club's loan bikes are now safely tucked away inside a shipping container, in town. We'll shortly install hanging racks for the bikes, plus put in the Time Trial start ramp and make space for the race trailer for its winter hibernation.
Thanks for organising the container Dave and thanks to the others for 'the move'.
Winery Ride
Fun day today (Sunday) for a few members of the club over at the GreenEDGE Winery Ride. Many of the team were on the ride and we got the chance to ride with Simon for quite a bit. Plus Bruce's highlight was riding 25 of the last 30km with Paris Roubaix winner Matt Hayman!
Mind you, they make you work hard for a post-ride smoothie!
Next club kit order
If you're interested in some of the new club kit, as shown so resplendently above, please contact Bruce via email. If we can get enough for a new order, we'll get Seight to start one soon.
White Ribbon Day
Finally, here's a good cause we should all support, this Friday...
