The manning valley cycle club hosted their annual summer sports festival criterium. There was a large showing of riders making for a very competitive and enjoyable spectacle. The afternoon though overcast was quite humid which made conditions tough with many a red face to be seen.

 

The junior contingent of the club is growing and the racing always fast and enjoyable. Christmas saw some riders receive new bikes and racing outfits from Santa. The Junior Summer Festival handicap was run over 3 laps of the Kolodong circuit. All juniors raced really well and showed how fit and mentally strong they were by racing to the end in the conditions of the day. The eventual winner was a newcomer to the sport Michael Dowsett followed by Jordan Blick, Emma Sewell and Baxter Pattison.

 

A grade was host to a big group of riders with Owen Belton settling back into local racing after his stint in America on the bike. It was Belton and Phil Grenfell who set the pace from the gun with speeds hovering around 45-55km/h for the first part of the race. Attacks were constant and fierce throughout the race as Josh Blick was keen to get away with the assistance of Phil Knowles. In the sprint for the line Michael Cross was able to come over Daniel Clinch and Beau Harper for the Victory.

 

B Grade riders were also keen to light the course ablaze as there were some high speeds also being reached with riders becoming strung out into single file as the crossed the line each time. Mal Weilly made a great attempt at a break early on, this was quite impressive after only a week or two back on the bike. The bunch stayed together after that until the last lap as Justin Woolard tried a solo attempt for the win. As they came over the hill aimed at the line the bunch was together again. It was a fierce and relentless sprint with Jack Steedman Gritting his teeth to hold on for the victory from the fast finishing Anthoney Cross and the ever improving Brett Provost.

 

C grade was hotly contested as the bunch raced around the Kolodong circuit. The riders were all feeling the heat and humidity but pushed through the pain barrier to make it a hard and honest win for the eventual victor. Nathan Loreton took the victory from a fast improving Sean Sadler and Tanya Cross.

 

D grade saw a good battle between some of the young and newcomers to the sport. The bunch looked to be quite strong as none were able to break away. The sprint finish was contested by the young riders of the grade, it was a four man race to the line over the last hundred metres. David Cowley took the victory from Jesse Alley and Kurt Sadler.

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