4 Nov 2009

        Overcast conditions with a southerly wind greeted riders at the Oxley Bend course for the third round of the Bourkes Bicycles pointscore series. A large field of Junior riders were on the line at 6.00pm to be briefed by Chief Commisaire Phil Knowles. Racing on a handicap basis, the kids raced for 2 laps of the course & Marcus Worth was the winner with a one minute advantage over the scratchmen & seems to be riding better than his father these days. Watch out Matt, he's coming. Second place went to Kobe Pattison with two minutes lead out & Adrian Green was third, also with two minutes advantage. Fourth was Jordon Blick, fifth & fastest time, riding from the scratch mark was Daniel Sewell. Sixth was Baxter Pattison, also from the scratch mark, seventh was Bayden Clinch & eighth was Emma Sewell.
        A Grade was the first senior grade to be away & again, Josh Blick hit hard from the whistle to string out the field immediately putting Matt Worth & Jack Steedman into difficulty. Glen Mathiske & Phil Grenfell chased & bridged the gap. Rhett Pattison & Daniel Crossingham chased hard but failed to catch the trio. Glen Mathiske is returning to his best form & won the sprint from Phil Grenfell with Josh Blick managing third place on his junior gearing.
        C Grade was on the course at the same time as A Grade & Wayne Callaghan gave a 20 minute + 2 lap lesson in riding from the front. Going hard from the start, he rode almost the entire race at the front. Apart from an attack from Troy Unicomb & a late charge by Kurt Sadler, Callaghan rode clear of the bunch with 2 laps to go & left the only rider to go with him in Kurt Sadler on the final lap to ride alone to the line. Sadler hung on for second & Ian Budden won the sprint for third place. Russell Davis, Don Worger & Troy Unicomb being the only riders to survive in the main bunch. The rest being strung out from high pace set by Callaghan. Mal Weiley unfortunately failed to finish.
        B Grade had the biggest field of the day with   riders vying for the win. Sam Alley went on the early offensive but the high pace of the field reeled him back in. Jason "facebook" Parker was another to put on the pressure & Justy Woolard was prominant at the front.No riers were dropped & with only the handicapper, Greg Walmsley just lagging at the turn for home it was a high speed trip back to the line. Daniel Clinch showed his racing experience & sprinting prowess to take the win from last weeks C Grade winner, Ben Stricker. Third place went to Brett Provost who continues to improve & will definitely be an A Grade contender before the season is out. Justin Woolard rode a good race & just missed out on the podium in fourth place.
        Robert Alley finally broke through for a win in D Grade. After finishing in the minor placings the last couple of weeks, he found his sprinting legs at last.  David Cowley again finished strongly with a second place & Tyler Nicholson in third. This race featured the comeback of Darren "Duck" Harvey. Darren had a steady race to finish in sixth place. Vanessa Croker was the only rider to fail to finish.
         E Grade was the domain of "the old Fox", Brian Louden. Completing his third win on the trot, just beating an improving Jahl Nicholson who in turn beat Matthew Blick. A breakaway by Ben Haywood & Jahl Nicholson looked as if it could succeed, but a lack of experience & fitness from Haywood in only his fourth race, allowed the chasers to come back in time for the sprint. Paula Callaghan is continuing to gain experience & although dropped mid race still finished on the same lap as the main bunch.
                  Marcus Worth was the winner with a one minute advantage over the scratchmen as seems to be riding better than his father these days. Watch out Matt, he's coming. Second place went to Kobe Pattison with two minutes lead out & Adrian Green was third, also with two minutes advantage. Fourth was Jordon Blick, fifth & fastest time, riding from the scratch mark was Daniel Sewell. Sixth was Baxter Pattison, also from the scratch mark, seventh was Bayden Clinch & eighth was Emma Sewell. 

MANNING VALLEY CYCLE CLUB