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Murwillumbah Cycle Club

September 28, 2002

Some like it hot. Some don't.

By Phil Ruge

A combination of hot, windy weather and other major sporting events saw a smaller field of 24 riders turn out for the Murwillumbah Cycle Club's road race on Saturday 28 September 2002. This week's course was Bald Mountain which covers some 55 kilometres and features a number of testing climbs between Chillingham and Bald Mountain and also between Chillingham and Numinbah. It is often on these sections of the course that the race is won or lost.

With a smaller number of riders A and B Grades were combined again this week to provide a field of 6 riders for this race. The pace on the outward leg of the course was quite fast as riders made the most of the generally favourable winds in this direction. Despite several attacks and much surging within the group they were still together at Bald Mountain. However, the field split on the way across to Numinbah with Chris Selden, Paul Matthews and Rob Lyte going clear. Once away this trio worked strongly together to ensure that they wouldn't be caught before the finish. This is just what happened with Chris Selden taking the sprint finish ahead of Paul Matthews followed by Rob Lyte in third place.

C Grade had 7 riders in their group and also wasted little time in getting on with the race. The quick pace persisted out to the hills where the opportunists put in the inevitable attacks to try and sort out their opponents. This only managed to reduce the field by one and saw any further attacks quickly closed down by the remaining riders. With no one willing to give in a sprint finish was almost inevitable to determine the outcome of the race. On the final straight and into a good headwind Wilf Hubac proved to be the fastest to the line though closely followed by Walter Perron in second place and Stuart Ellick third home.

There were 8 starters in D Grade. These riders also made the most of the generally favourable conditions on the way out. Once into the hills things became a little more serious as the riders began to test each other on the numerous climbs. This saw one rider drop off and the elastic stretch for a number of others as the climbs continued on the way across to Numinbah. To their credit no one gave in and once together again the bunch work well into the strong headwind on the way home. Dennis Burger briefly stirred things up over the final kilometres with a number of attacks but these were shut down each time. Into the final straight Jim Higgins started the sprint early hoping to stay clear into the headwind but was overtaken before the line by Frank Schirmer, Dennis Brown and Tom Allen to eventually finish fourth for his efforts. Just 3 riders contested a shorter 35 kilometre race to Chillingham and return. The conditions helped to ensure that they stayed together over this distance and set things up for a sprint finish as well. First home was Kevin LeRoy who continued his good form of recent weeks with Allan Sultman second and Declan Curran in third place.

Racing next week will be the final monthly handicap race for this season over the full Tyalgum course. The start time is 2.00 pm from Pat Smith Park, Dulguigan and riders are asked to be early to assist the handicapper. Further information from Phil Ruge on 0412 823 103.

Results

A & B grade combined
 
1 Chris Selden
2 Paul Matthews
3 Rob Lyte
 
C grade
 
1 Wilf Hubac
2 Walter Perron
3 Stuart Ellick
 
D grade
 
1 Kevin LeRoy
2 Allan Sultman
3 Declan Curran