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Mildura-Coomealla CC Criterium

January 19, 2003

By Peter Winton

January is not the best month for good roll ups to Mildura's cycling events with holidays and warm weather about. Still, nine members took up the challenge to ride some excess fluid off last Sunday morning at our "Ornamental Lakes" circuit which overlooks the Murray River within the weir pool of Mildura's Lock 11. I, at least, had to shed some Wynns Coonawarra Chardonnay build up (not the usual colour of wine in my system!).

During warm-ups, the smell of burning pig and (chook) bum-nuts permeated the air, no doubt wafting across the way from one of the house-boats moored along the banks of the Murray. Just think of those poor unfortunate souls with nothing else to do all day except sun themselves and drink beverages in coloured packages! Don't you feel for them?

Once I got the smell of BBQ out of my nostrils I was able to concentrate on the "hot-dog" turns before me along this 600 metre long circuit. At the hot-dog turn, Richard Hale was almost overcome by the aroma as his bike decided to display a double-wheeled skid. Could it have been that Richard was troubled by the breakfast aroma? Or perhaps he was helping the photographer with a close-up action pic?

Soon after, Arthur Anderson attempted a passing manouvre at the boat ramp end of the circuit which saw him collapse his McPherson made treddly just because he could. No damage done to either man nor machine except the ruination of his chances of figuring in the finish. The small bunch rode on with the knowledge the good Doctor was "OK". Then it was Brendan Liddle's turn to show us how close he can get to the gutter without tripping himself up, it was all happening!

At the bell lap it Peter Winton lead Richard Hale from Brendan Liddle with Nathan Welsh tucked in nicely at the rear. Approaching the Chaffey Bridge underpass for the last time it was the De Rosa frame under Richard Hale's guidance which swept to the front and stamped some authority on the race. Brendan Liddle made a rare appearance near the front as he charged up along side. Winton was about spent after being silly enough to do any of the attacking during the preceding 30 minutes.

In the end the big frame of Liddle just edged out the finer physique of Hale with Winton a drifting third place. Thanks for perservering with my long story, what else could I write about with so few of us? My apologies, Dat Rudd made his debut with the Club and found out a little about why God gave him lungs and legs and a heart etc.

Results, 30 minute scratch criterium

1 B Liddle
2 R Hale
3 P Winton
4 N Weslh
5 A Anderson
6 J Lokan
7 D Basse-Anstee
8 D Rudd
9 A Lloyd