Another top evening of Cycle racing was held at the Arkwight circuit last Wednesday with good numbers in all grades. Club President & Chief Commisaire for the Day, Gary Piper kicked things off with the junior riders competing on a three lap handicap. Junior Development officer Dan Aldridge organised the starting order & the limit rider Fraser Crossingham having 9 minutes start on the scratch riders Ben Cross & Daniel Sewell. Fraser enjoyed the advantage a stayed clear of the field to take the victory from Jordan Blick in second place. Jordan was part of a bunch containing Bayden Macintosh-Clinch & Cale Dawson who started 6 1/2  minutes behind Fraser & 1 1/2 minutes ahead of scratch. Third went to Cale Dawson from the same bunch. Fastest time went to Daniel Sewell. Kayne Budden rode well from a start of 8 minutes to take fourth place & Zane Dawson in fifth from a start of 3 1/2 minutes. 11 juniors competed & all finished. Well done little guys.

                   B Grade started proceedings with a 25 minute + 2 lap Criterium. Justin Woolard set the pace & went on a long solo raid, only failing with three lapsm to go when Brett Provost went across to join him & then within a lap the bunch had caught both. Daniel Clinch again proved to be the fast man in the sprint to take his third victory of the season. Brett Provost is another coming on strong & finished second, replicating the previous weeks result. Gavin Jackson is starting to get the hang of this Criterium racing & finished in third place. Wayne Callaghan finished fourth &  John Corbett fifth.

                  C grade was next away for the same 25 minute + 2 minute event. This race was the maiden ride for Motorcycle Ace Alex Cudlin. Alex is having a few rides before his return to Europe in January. Welcome to Cycle racing Alex. The race was agin run at a fast pace with Kurt Sadler seeming to have energy to burn & Don Worger doing plenty of work. Mal Weiley made an attack but found the fitness was not there & ultimately failed to finish. Michael Godwin had an improved ride & is catching on fast. In the finish it was Michael Dowsett also taking his third victory of the season with Ian "handbrake" Budden in second & Russell Davis third. Don Worger continues to improve his sprinting & crossed the line fourth. Troy Unicombe had his highest finish in fifth.

                   10 A Grade riders started the elite event with Dan Aldridge again the red hot favourite with Josh Blick & Glen Mathiske also in the mix. Tai Piper having a rest from velodrome duties with the Hunter Academy was also a chance as his sprint is quite handy. During the race the usual attacks from Blick, Daniel Crossingham & Rhett Pattison caused some distress for Lloyd Ninham & Michael Cross & they both failed to finish. In a tactical final lap, the three favorites, keeping a keen eye on each other, missed the kick & let the bunch get away up the hill. Daniel Crossingham took a nice win with Jack Steedman a very close second with Tai Piper in third. Matt Worth thought it was Christmas come early with a fourth place & Newly promoted Grant Webster in fifth.

                    With David Cowley promoted to C Grade, The dynamics of D Grade changed & along with it the finishing order. After four wins to Cowley, his promotion left it open for a new order. Wilf Alley after struggling on previous weeks, came home for victory from Peter Bird, having his first ride for the season. Peter will go onto higher grades in time with this result in his first Crit. Third place went to Tyler Nicholson, once again finding the sprint a little fast for his junior gearing. It won't be long before young Tyler will break away & he won't have to worry about the sprint. Kelle Nicholson finished fourth & a comeback ride for Richard Parvin after several years abscence, netted him the final points paying position of fifth. Darren "Duck" Harvey continues his comeback by being in the bunch till the final lap. Robert Alley had a bad ride, failing to be in the points for the first time in several weeks.

                     E Grade was taken out by new rider Jack Reneberg after he & Oscar Watson-Sutherland went clear on the final lap. Jack outsprinted Oscar for the win. Veteran rider Bob Ryan crossed in third in his first Creit for the season. Caroline Pattison had a great ride to finish fourth & Harold Greenhalgh fifth. Belinda Crossinham improves every week & finished within half a lap of the winners. New riders Toni McInerney & Paula Callaghan are also improving under the coaching of some senior riders.

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