Winners are grinners
By Michael Pearce
All agreed the Bakker Plumbing Handicap at Jamieson is probably the best race of the season, on the best course. It starts with a relaxing drive out to Jamieson as race preparation, then a hard, fun race followed by dinner at the Jamieson Brewery.
With a full moon rising, enthusiastic officials, (thank you) and a handicap system that is getting closer to perfect every race… off we went!
Rob Skinner and I waited for three groups to go off before us: John Eisner was off Limit at 13.00; then John Findlay, Dave Jagger and Craig Wilson off 11.30; and then Steve Curnow, Belinda Cipa, her daughter Katie Cipa and Wayne Arazny off 9.00.
Wayne missed his start time and suffered trying to get back on.
Rob and I decided to race on at the half way mark and not ‘sit up’ and wait for the in form ‘awesome foursome’ of the 3.30 group, Ant Bateup, Tom MacMunn, Darren Bakker and Jarrod Appleton, who were gaining on us quickly.
It’s a bit hard to tell… but he doesn’t seem to be grinning in this pic!
Catching the front markers we knew we had a chance to hold off the looming faster riders.
The Block group of Craig Oliver, Steve Duke, Matt Hoskin, Dave Moore and Bruce Halket were caught by two thirds of Scratch ((Chris Miller and Belinda’s son-in-law Shane Marshall had just dropped Steve Brown) a little before half way. However, only Moore and Halket were able to stay with them after the turnaround.
“It was two locomotives, a few carriages and a caboose,” Wil said about the ride after the turnaround.
Rob Skinner the winner and grinner, Katie and Belinda displayed good race tactics to get 2nd and 3rd, myself 4th. Rob’s time was 58.48, an actual ride time of 50.48.
Halket got home for fifth ahead of Bateup, Miller, Appleton and Marshall. Darren Bakker, race sponsor and club spiritual guru, rounded out the top ten.
Despite a fatigue and beer-induced error at presentations, which gave fastest time to Shane Marshall, fastest time was actually ridden by Chris Miller - 45.04.
Next week’s race is from the Botanic Park, turning at Long Lane and finishing on Graves Road - see you there!
Here are the results.
Dirt Crits
After last week’s last minute cancellation, Dirt Crits will be back this coming week.
It’s a Cross Country night… watch out for Ruby! (We hear she’s quick…)
Eastern Grand Prix for Women
Eastern Cycling Club are hosting their Eastern GP (for Women only) at Casey Fields on Saturday 5 March. It’s a 3-race format with grades from A to E.
More info and entries (by Fri 4 Mar) here.
MTB Nats at Maydena
The MTB Nationals culminate this weekend with the finals of XCO on Saturday plus Downhill and XCC on Sunday. Good luck to all the MMBCCers racing.
Follow the results here.