The Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club held its final race for the first half of the summer season last Thursday.
The format was a handicapped four person team time trial with seven teams taking part. First off was the team of Sue Hall, Loretta Armitage, Tony Morris and Darren Riley. Several teams followed before the team of Tim Ross, Will MacDonald, Steve Plummer and Euan Friday set off. Enjoying a respite from the higher end of the field, Ross dragged his teammates out and back recording a solid time with a lot of "did that hard" noises from the others.
The top team of Bruce Halket, Josh Hopwood, Mauro Brega and Andrew Gerrans looked like a quick unit and rode smoothly with an average of 40.8km/h but it was the second ranked team of Darren Bakker, Rob Greenway, Stefan Vaivars and New Zealander, Dougal, who rode very strongly coming in minutes ahead of the next group to take out the win for the evening.
The race was followed by the Christmas breakup at the tennis clubrooms with a list of awards. Craig Wilson, surprisingly missing out on a nomination for the Lance Armstrong best return to form from injury, took out the See Saw award for best deception of the handicapper with winning performances followed the next week with end of field results. Stefan Vaivars was acknowledged as an able assistant to the handicapper and Alain Guerin and Steve Plummer jointly shared the Lance Armstrong award for services to the Hospital Emergency Department.
Cam Lachal took out the Queensland-Bus-Driver-Call-In-The-Fashion-Police award for overly long sock wearing during competitions. He rightfully received a pair of cycling socks for his ongoing career.
Up and coming youngsters Mitch Greenway and Foley Lachal were recognised on a more serious note with the winning of an encouragement award each for their impressive improvement over the season so far.
Vanessa Skinner from the Mansfield and District Community Bank attended the awards and was thanked for the substantial donation the bank has made towards the cycling criterium to be held as part of the Tour de Flavour/Scody High Country Cycle Challenge next March. The event was very successful earlier this year and promises to build on that success in what should be a huge weekend of cycling,food and fun in Mansfield.
Thanks also to our volunteer marshals and to Peter Hunt for his photos over the season.
The next race is Thursday 12th Jaunuary 2012. Entries to Di by 8pm Wed 11th.
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