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Murwillumbah Cycle Club

Bald Mountain/Upper Crystal Creek, October 19, 2002

Lyte on his feet

By Phil Ruge

With a smaller number of riders again turning out the Murwillumbah Cycle Club followed the same handicap and scratch formats as last week for its road races on Saturday 19 October.

This week's course was to Bald Mountain and back to Upper Crystal Creek before finish as usual at Dulguigan. The race distance is some fivefive kilometres and with no major obstacles to contend with it was only the hot and windy weather that would trouble the riders. A small group of just 14 riders started the handicap race. The groups were limit (two riders), two minutes (five riders), 8 minutes (five riders) and two scratch riders at 18 minutes. The 2 limit riders got away smartly and used the more favourable wind to set a quick pace out to Chillingham and on towards Bald Mountain. However, the next group were also away to a quick start and despite dropping two riders before Chillingham had the front runners in sight before Bald Mountain. These two groups joined and worked well together to try and maintain their advantage.

Meanwhile the remaining groups were on the course with the two scratch riders, Rob Lyte and Brendan Egan, catching the hapless 8 minute group by Chillingham on the way out! Rob Lyte immediately put the pressure on again and rode off alone in pursuit of the front runners who still had a reasonable lead at this point in the race.

The front group were still clear through Upper Crystal Creek and back to Boat Harbour. However, once back onto the flats after Kaehler's Hill with some five kilometres left to race Rob Lyte finally made contact with this group.

After sitting on for a few minutes to catch his breath Rob launched an attack at Kynnumboon that only Frank Schirmer could go with. Frank stayed glued to Rob's wheel until the finish but had to be content with second spot as he just could not get past Lyte over the last few hundred metres. Third home shortly after was Colin Ryman from the two minute group with the two limit riders Dennis Burger and Jim Higgins picking up fourth and fifth places respectively.

Rob Lyte's fine ride not only netted him the win but also fastest time at 1:25 with an average speed of 39 km/h. E Grade held a separate scratch race for their 3 starters this week. The difficult conditions saw the group keep together over the 36 kilometres to Chillingham and back where newcomer Dave Nadin was first across the line. Second home was Declan Curran with Alan Dalton in third spot.

Racing next week will be over the Bald Mountain course with a 2pm start from Pat Smith Park, Dulguigan. All riders are asked to be on time for the start of the races. The Annual General Meeting of the Murwillumbah Cycle Club will be held on Wednesday 6 November at the Tweed Tavern, Murwillumbah. The Club's Presentation Night will be held at the RSL Club, Murwillumbah on Saturday 9 November. All riders are most welcome at both of these events. Bookings are essential for Presentation Night and can be made through Lesley Larsen or Dennis Burger. See you there!

Results, 55 km handicap

1 Robert Lyte (Murwillumbah)       1.25 (39 km/h)
2 Frank Schirmer (Murwillumbah)
3 Colin Ryman (Murwillumbah)
4 Dennis Burger (Murwillumbah)
5 Jim Higgins (Murwillumbah)
 
Fastest Time - Robert Lyte 
 
E Grade, 36 km
 
1 Dave Nadin (Murwillumbah)        1.14 (29 km/h)
2 Declan Curran (Lismore)
3 Alan Dalton (Murwillumbah)