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Murwillumbah CC Tyalgum Cup

Tyalgum, NSW, January 26, 2003

Almost a ton for revitalised Tyalgum race

By Phil Ruge

A total of 99 riders faced the starter for the 2003 edition of the Tyalgum Cup held at Tyalgum near Murwillumbah on the far north coast of New South Wales.

This race has become the curtain raiser for the Murwillumbah Cycle Club's road racing season and attracts riders from across northern New South Wales and south eastern Queensland. The race itself was reinstituted in 1998 after an absence of some 30 years from the local racing calendar and is now an integral part of the Australia day celebrations at Tyalgum.

The 99 riders were divided into 9 groups at limit, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, 9 minutes, 10 minutes, 13 minutes and 15 minutes with chopping block on 16 minutes and the scratch riders at 17 minutes.

The race route travels from Tyalgum towards Murwillumbah for some 18 kilometres before returning along the same route to finish back at Tyalgum.

The weather conditions were good for racing with some light cloud cover and mild temperatures and just the hint of a breeze.

Most of the groups made the most of these conditions and set quick times across the first half of the race. The first three groups had come together by this point with the exception of Frank Betschart from the limit group who was still out front. The larger group picked up the pace after the turn but then slowed which allowed Betschart to stay clear for now.

Meanwhile the remaining groups were riding well but not quite fast enough to catch the front runners. The exceptions here were chopping block and the scratchies who were trying hard to reel in any riders in front of them.

The front group started to splinter over the last 5 kilometres of racing as it became clear that Betschart may not be caught! This saw the front group reduced in size as riders started to drop off from the faster pace.

However, Betschart was not to be outdone and he came into the home straight with a lead of several hundred metres which he kept until the line. In the ensuing dash the faster riders from both the 4 minute and 5 minute groups took out the remaining top 10 places. The first woman to finish was Debbie Marl from the 4 minute group whilst Tim Beck was the first junior rider home. Fastest time went to Jon Cantwell at 48 minutes for an average speed of 45 kilometres per hour over the 36 kilometre race distance.

Murwillumbah Cycle Club acknowledges the support of the Tyalgum community in staging this race and looks forward to the next edition in 2004.

Results

Overall
 
1 Frank Betschart (GoldStars)
2 Peter Jansen (Hamilton Pine River Wheelers)
3 Frederico Mason (CATS)
4 Dennis Brown (Murwillumbah)
5 Frank Schirmer (Murwillumbah)
6 Peter Larsen (Murwillumbah)
7 Jeff Finnigan (Murwillumbah)
8 Grant Byers (Murwillumbah)
9 Thomas Bennett (Gold Coast)
10 Gary Wardrop (GoldStars)
  
Women
 
1 Debbie Marl (Gold Coast)
2 Lisa Drew (Gold Coast)
3 Kylie Jones (CATS)
  
Juniors
 
1 Tim Beck (Murwillumbah)
  
Fastest Time
 
36 kilometres in 0.48 (45km/hr)
 
1 Jon Cantwell (Treasury Casino)
2 Jason Phillips (Dortmund)