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Mildura-Coomealla CC
Riverside, Mildura, Sunday, December 21, 2003
By "Santa" (a.k.a Peter Winton)
Merry Christmas to you all out there in Cyclingnews.com world! Hope you enjoy the festive season and that January 1 ushers in a wonderful New Year for you all.
In Mildura today, we woke to an overcast sky with a forecast of showers and a southerly change. None of those climatic conditions eventuated during our race but "by bike tubes" it was humid!
20 members and one visitor pinned numbers on their jerseys today and yes we had two more late arrivals who went ‘round for the sake of it. Oh, and remember what I predicted last week? You don't do you? Well, I foretold that Dr Arthur A. would front up, and guess what? I think you know. I might charge $25.00 from now on for my predictions and get a new group set for next Christmas! Absentees, President Mulhearn, Jack Lokan and Sam Priest.
Seven riders in A grade, Rob McNally, Mark Busch, Ian Brade, Kevin "toothache" Tankard, Nathan Summerhayes, Errol Schmidt and former local, Damon Stefani.
Buschy was too good again for the A-team beating home the big "E" Kev Tankard, Damon Stefani in third. A grade average today was 41 kms/hr so it was "on" from the start. Mark's time was 1:02:15.
Ten riders in the "killer bees" plus the two late arrivals. Scott Giles, Harry Robbins, Richard Hale, Ian Beruldsen, Barry Pollock, Dave Priest, Dion Bassi-Anstee, Peter Mills and Peter Winton. The two late arrivals being Brendan Liddle (regularly) and Michael Shipsides.
The bustling "bees" was taken out by the "bustling" Ian Beruldsen in a sprint finish from Richard "mineral sands" Hale and Scott Giles. Ian's time was 1:07:52.
Our average was 36kms/hr. A good race in the "bees" today with the good doctor doing what he does best (coming round them all from the back in the big kahuna). Most of us hanging off the back of Bassi-Anstee's bike thinking he was gonna blaze away. He didn't, and the whole damned bunch stayed together for a sprint at the end.
Five entries for the "vitamin cees", Rob Akkermans, Peter Doody, Adam Wightwick, Greg Scott and Jeff Mitchell. Apologies to Scotty for re-naming him "Jeff" last week. It might have gone down OK in the "bloody Jeff" era of former Vic Premier Jeff Kennett but the moment has certainly passed. Sorry Greg.
In the small cee grade field the blokes stuck together as well with little surges going on. In the end an apologetic Rob Akkermans graciously handed over the win to Peter Doody, who managed to keep his feet in the pedals this week, Doody winning the race in a time of 1:09:40.
The handicap races after the new year break could see some interesting mixes in the bunches with several riders possibly being re-appraised. There you go, another prediction!
Cycling visitors to Mildura will found out all about us by calling into Bikes & Trikes in Lime Avenue, Mildura, right opposite Coles. We have a bunch ride on Wednesday night, leaves the Tenth street water tower at 5pm, of approx. 50kms where you can take on Tanks and Buschy in the "Knob Stakes" and a 60km ride on Saturday mornings departing 8am from the Bridge. There's only one bridge, so you can't get lost!
Results, 40km Graded Scratch
A Grade 1 Mark Busch 2 Kev Tankard 3 Damon Stefani (visitor) 4 Rob McNally 5 Nathan Summerhayes 6 Ian Brade 7 Errol Schmidt B Grade 1 Ian Beruldsen 2 Richard Hale 3 Scott Giles 4 Barry Pollock 5 Dion Bassi-Anstee 6 Peter Mills 7 Harry Robbins 8 Peter Winton 9 Arthur Anderson DNF Dave Priest C Grade 1 Peter Doody 2 Greg Scott 3 Jeff Mitchell 4 Rob Akkermans
