Orbost-Marlo-Conran & return 65km (13Feb10)
Henry's classic win

A small contingent of cyclists travelled to Or­bost for the first of the four cycling classics for the current Bairnsdale and Riviera Cycling Club racing year last weekend.

The summer classic, a 65km handicap race from Orbost to Conran and re­turn, along the coastal un­dulating road. The weath­er was inclement, with steady rain falling, and a stiff gusting 30-knot south-easterly breeze blowing.

First away was veteran Eddie Smith and Ross Wembridge off 19 min­utes, followed by Leigh Thompson and Jim Comber.

It was Henry Leatham, Ken Porter, Chris Dungey and local young up and coming cyclist Ross Hon­icke off 90 seconds, fol­lowed by Warren Meade, who has been training the house down during the week after fading in last week's event, off scratch. Eddie and Ross were working well together into the wind on the way to Conran and the turn around; Leigh and Jim were not making any headway on the front group by the half way mark.

At the start of the 90-second bunch, the rain had eased, and young Ross learnt a very valu­able lesson, as he went back to pick up his glass­es, he missed the start, his bunch leaving without him. That 30 seconds he was late, he tried vainly to catch his group, but played it smart, sat up and waited for the scratch marker in Warren to come along and tag on the back. It was like a pursuit race, between Warren, and Henry and Chris, as the pace was too high for Ken to do any turns. Chris Dungey did some huge turns into the wind on the outward leg.

At the turn Eddie and Ross still had a five-minute lead, but the other bunches had each other in site, about a 30-second gap between each group. Warren was first to close done one gap, with the wind at his back, feeling good, was cruising at 48km/h. After sitting on, Honicke came to the front and did some turns so Warren could gain a rest. Chris, Henry and Ken were sitting on getting a rest as well and it wasn't long before Leigh and Jim were engulfed into the bunch. Warren tested everybody's legs just be­fore Marlo, that effort dropping Jim and Leigh. With the pace slowing a little, Chris and Henry rolled to the front to help out to pull back the limit markers. With about 8km to go they were swept up into the train.

With only four of the riders sharing the work load, the pace was even until about the last 2km when the ever youthful Eddie Smith came to the front. Everybody seemed to look at each other and were thinking 'what is he doing trying to sneak away like that'.

Henry Leatham was first to ease off, ready for the sprint, he positioned him­self behind Warren. Whatever Warren did Henry matched and at about 1km to go, Dungey put on a short burst to test who had the legs. Quick­ly to follow was local Ross Honicke, Chris eased. Ross, now in front and with the line looming at about 700 metres, he started sprinting, fol­lowed by Warren and Henry and Chris and the rest. Henry was waiting and waiting for Warren to respond, with the line get­ting closer and closer. At 200 metres Henry could­n't wait any longer and went, quickly reeling in a fading Honicke. Warren's legs had gone to jelly, from the sheer volume of work into the wind. Dungey quickly picked up Warren, grabbed Ross on the line, but failed to match Henry's kick.

A delighted but stunned Henry was first, Chris second (by a whisker) and Honicke, realising he went too early, third. An exhausted Warren was fourth, but still with good points for the overall clas­sic series.

The next classic is the autumn classic on May 8 at Buchan South. This week's race is the criteri­um championship at Pay­nesville tomorrow. 

Goose Gully Kermese 35km (6Feb10)
LINC'S EGG
It had been some years since the Bairnsdale and Riviera Cycling Club has raced the Goose Gully circuit, however all that changed last Saturday when Linc Kelly took the golden egg from the Goose Gully kermese.  Fifteen riders faced 10 laps of the 3.5km circuit, some not looking forward to climbing the Goose Gully hill 10 times.

First away were Ross Wembridge, Grant Sanderson, Leigh Thompson, Jim Comber back from a shoulder injury, and the ever youthful, veteran Eddie Smith, on 13 minutes.  It wasn't long before Eddie showed he needed some more hills under his legs, and lost touch with his group, however the rest of the bunch stayed together.

Next away were Henry Leatham, Chris Dungey, Ken Porter and John Fast on six minutes.  It was Ken who was first to fade, at about lap five, the rest of the trio working well and keeping a good tempo going.

On three minutes were Simon Anderson, Rick Young and Eric Sjerp, with Warren Meade, Linc Kelly and Baden Nichols, fresh from a sizzling time trial the week before, off scratch.  Linc was doing his usual warm up, and ready for a fast start, but was interrupted by the six-minute bunch as it crossed the line as the scratch markers were being counted down, after being temporarily left behind.  It wasn’t long before his intentions were made known.  From the gun, Linc and Baden put the hammer down, even putting a very fit Warren under pressure, but Warren knew they couldn't sustain this pace, or could they?  With such a fast pace, they soon reeled in the three-minute bunch in only about four laps, and psychologically, that was the end of them.  Simon Anderson, managed to hang on for about two more laps, then continued by himself.

John, Chris and Henry caught the riders in front on about lap five and were riding well and thought they might have a chance, but on lap eight they could see Warren and Linc. Only Linc could respond to the challenge and going up the hill for the last time with half a lap to go, caught and tried to surge past Chris, Henry and John. Henry was first to jump across, then Chris, but John was spent. Linc had a quick look and went again on the second part of the hill, this time dislodging Chris, with Henry hanging on with everything he had.  Linc Kelly cruised to victory, with an exhausted Henry second and Chris third, followed by John and Warren.  A couple of riders never finished, but veterans Eddie Smith and Jim Comber showed the younger riders how to finish in style.

Paynesville Criterium (9Jan10)
20 mins plus 2 laps
Eight riders braved the hot and windy conditions to compete in the Paynesville Criterium.  Due to the 40°C⁺ degree temperature and small number of riders, it was decided to run the race as a single grade for 20 minutes plus 2 laps.  Just as the race started the wind swung around from a hot northerly to a strong southerly slightly dropping the temperature but making it a hard grind up the back straight of the course.  Stuart Derham suffered a puncture to his back tyre during the second lap but some quick thinking saw him back on track after he borrowed fellow club member and spectator, Ashley Higman’s bike.  Shortly after the bike swap, Stuart had a fall on one of the more technical corners and withdrew from the race uninjured and with no damage to the borrowed bike, much to Ashley’s relief.

Ken Porter and Rick Young both withdrew from the race due to the heat leaving 5 riders left on the course.  Chris Dungey put in a fine effort but the heat and the pace took its toll and saw him drop from the lead bunch leaving Henry Leatham, Baden Nichols, Gary Jackson and Linc Kelly to battle it out.  Linc looked as cool as a cucumber as he led the group around the circuit but it was still anyone’s race.  Henry was the next to drop off after hanging on to the lead bunch for a good 16 mins.  The three lead riders were still looking strong but hot as they approached the 20 minute mark.  A blast of pace from Linc was matched by Gary but was too much for young Baden.  With the final lap to go it was going to be a big finish.  Linc had held the lead for most of the race, but it was Gary Jackson who had a little sting left in his tail to come over the finish line just ahead of Linc.

Beverley's Loop (19Dec09)
2008 Beijing Olympian, Daniel McConnell, set a course record in Saturday’s Bairnsdale & Riviera Cycling Club’s 46 kilometre road race.  Daniel had cycled 65 km from Bruthen into a strong head wind prior to the start.  Daniel and Warren Meade started on scratch at Fernbank.  Both rode together past “The Fingerboards” and along the Dargo Road.  Daniel broke away on the steep climb before Beverley’s Road.  He caught most of the field on the hilly section on Beverley’s Road.  After Stockdale, Daniel sped past Russell Needham and Chris Dungey.  With strong acceleration and a tail wind Chris Dungey managed to get onto Daniel’s back wheel and draft for some time.  Once Daniel realised that Martin Blennerhasset was still out in front and riding well he surged, dropping a tiring Chris Dungey.  Daniel easily caught Martin and sped off to clearly win the race.  Martin finished second while Russell Needham managed to catch Chris who had little left after staying with Daniel for third place.  After the race Dan rode the 65 km back to Bruthen aided by a fading tail wind.

The previous weekend (Sat12-Sun13Dec09) saw Daniel winning both the Elite Men’s Short Course Cross Country and the Elite Men’s Cross Country in the Jayco Australian Mountain Bike (MTB) Series held in Glenorchy, Tasmania.

Road Race Championships (22Aug09)
David McLean took out the Bairnsdale & Riviera Cycling Club Road Race Championships for the second year in a row.  David and Stuart Derham managed to break clear of the rest of the field about three quarters of the way through the first of the two 31 km laps.  They continued to extend their lead despite stopping for a wheel change when Stuart’s bike punctured.  The championship came down to a sprint finish with a determined David delighting his fans with his superb winning sprint.  David’s win is all the more remarkable given that he was injured earlier this year when hit by a car in Melbourne whilst training.

Junior riders Baden Nicholls and Ross Honicke stayed with Stuart and David for more than half the first lap.  Baden and Ross stayed neck and neck for another lap until Baden eventually broke away with less than half a lap to go to take out the Junior title.

John East had to ride the last lap solo to take out the over 45 section.  Riders had to contend with strong head winds which abated when they turned to go with the wind.  Al Campbell and Geoff Warr completed the shorter one lap distance in the over 45 section.  Jim Comber was the sole rider in the over 65 section as was Katrina East in the junior girls section.