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A total of 34 riders turned out to contest this 47 kilometre race which takes riders from Dulguigan out to Chillingham before returning via Upper Crystal Creek. Whilst this course is straightforward the hot and humid conditions with threatening storms made it anything but an easy afternoon!
In A grade the seven riders set out at a fast pace. They managed to keep together until Crystal Creekwhen Robert Lyte broke away. A concerted effort by the other riders gradually brought him back and Lyte rejoined the group with about four kilometres to go. This set the race up for a sprint finish which saw new club member Ashley Bryant first across the line with Ian 'Crash' Walker second and another new member Jon Eather in third place.
A good field of eight riders also started out at a fast pace in B Grade. This group included local rider Paul Matthews who is the current World Triathlon Champion in his age division. Paul continually pushed the pace of this bunch which saw several riders drop off throughout the race. The rest of the riders kept together until final kilometre when two of them were disqualified for cutting inside the witch's hat on the Dulguigan Road intersection. This left a smaller group to fight out the finish with Paul Matthews first home from Brian Richards and Jeff Collier in that order.
C Grade boasted a large field of 13 riders including Sandra Bury who was the only female rider for the afternoon's racing. This group also set out at a quick pace with Lindsay Smith riding off the front within the first five kilometres. The ensuing chase saw a number of riders dropped but the others kept together and caught Smith by Crystal Creek on the way out. The pace didn't change much after this as further surges and attacks kept everyone working hard throughout the race.
A further attack with about four kilometres to go split the bunch again but desperate riding saw the group back together with less than kilometre to go! On the line it was Lindsay Smith first with Bruce Bridgeman second and the venerable Frank Schirmer picking up third place.
A small group of six riders contested the D Grade race. This group kept together until Chillingham when a quickening of the pace split the group and saw three riders go clear. These riders included Peter Larsen and Bill Mustard who worked well together to drop the other rider and maintain their lead to the finish. Larsen's younger legs saw him first across the line with Mustard picking up a well earned second place. Third home was the 'Colnago Kid' Jim Higgins a short time later.
As this was the first event of the year a social barbeque courtesy of Jim Higgins and Dennis Burger was enjoyed by the riders at the conclusion of the races.
Racing next week is again over approximately 45 kilometres with Bald Mountain being the nominated course. Start time is 3.00 pm (DST) from Pat Smith Park, Dulguigan.
A Grade 1 Ashley Bryant (Murwillumbah) 1:12 (39.16 km/hr) 2 Ian Walker (Murwillumbah) 3 Jon Eather (Murwillumbah) B Grade 1 Paul Matthews (Murwillumbah) 1.14 (38.10 km/hr) 2 Brian Richards (Murwillumbah) 3 Jeff Collier (Murwillumbah) C Grade 1 Lindsay Smith (Murwillumbah) 1.18 (36.16 km/hr) 2 Bruce Bridgeman (Murwillumbah) 3 Frank Schirmer (Murwillumbah) D Grade 1 Peter Larsen (Murwillumbah) 1.23 (33.97 km/hr) 2 Bill Mustard (Murwillumbah) 3 Jim Higgins (Murwillumbah) Results courtesy Phil Ruge