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Port Fairy Cycling Club
August 21, 2004
Newcomer Takes the Prize
By David Tozer
The busy Southwest cycling season continued last Saturday with riders having to choose between local racing and a major two-day event in Halls Gap. As a consequence, the number of competitors at Saturday's Port Fairy Club race were well down.
The large contingent that travelled to Halls Gap had a very successful couple of days, with Chris Carr, Darryl Edwards and a number of others collecting places in the scratch races that were held on Saturday.
Those that decided to race locally faced a tough assignment; strong north westerly's and small numbers in each of the groups. The handicapper was also faced with the task of applying handicaps to a vastly different group than is normal. For example, the honour of riding of scratch was given to Mark Hyland, Nick Lee and Chris Burridge. They were given the difficult task of chasing a group containing the winners of the last two races, Peter Mentha and Brian Raymond, along with Peta Maher and Chris West.
Further down the road the group containing Rex Habel, Lou McLaren and Danny Boyd were occupied with the task of reeling in limit markers; Gary Spencer, Darryl Rae and rookie Simon Borthwick.
The first catch of the day was achieved by the scratch-markers. Their efforts into the teeth of the breeze ensured that Mentha and Maher would no longer be threats. The loss of West (Puncture) and Raymond made the chase much easier. Next on the back-markers list of groups to demolish would be the Habel-lead group. Sure enough the hard working scratch riders collected the remnants of this bunch with around five kilometres left to travel. The only question left to answer was, would they inflict the same misery on the limit group?
The answer came as the enlarged chasing pack sped into the long straight, three kilometres from the finish. A lone rider approximately two kilometres ahead and the realisation that a further two riders were even closer to the finish meant that their quest for victory had been in vein.
The lone rider was Gary Spencer, he could no doubt see the battle for the first two placings take shape. The battle had emerged between Rae and Borthwick. Rae was unable to stick to the rookie, Borthwick's, wheel in the closing stages of the race and had to settle for second. Borthwick managed to salute the judges a good 50 metres clear of Rae in a first up win that he will no doubt cherish.
The contest for fastest time was all that remained for the scratch riders. Co-operation was no longer on Nick Lee's agenda. A vicious attack caused a 20-metre gap to appear between he and the rest of the field. A lack of organization allowed Lee to entertain thoughts of a successful breakaway. However a couple of strong turns from the chase pack closed the gap. In a move that was timed to perfection, Chris Burridge jumped from the chase pack and quickly bridged across to Lee. Burridge was flying as he confidently surged to the front of the race. His timely and brutal counter-attack broke the will of the remaining riders. All that was left was for Burridge to solo the final 300 metres to the line.
The form displayed by Burridge may ensure that the weekend's honour of riding off scratch may not be a once off event. Where as the other riders will no doubt be looking forward to resuming their normal places in the pecking order as racing resumes from the Port Fairy Showgrounds 2 p.m. this Saturday.
