Despite a wet start to the day, conditions brightened somewhat for the start of racing on Central Lansdowne road. Graded scratch races were on the programme with A Grade scheduled for 4 laps, B &  C grade for 3 laps, D Grade 2 laps & E Grade for 1 lap. Seven riders including the newly promoted Wayne Callaghan met the starter for the 52km journey in A grade. Glen Handford & Graham Norris were pre race favorites, with Gavin Jackson & Daniel Crossingham in with a chance of an upset. It was also welcome back to Phil Knowles after a short break. Despite many attacks,the bunch stayed pretty well together, with only a couple of riders being in trouble, but they fought their way back to be involved in the sprint finish. Glen Handford & Gavin Jackson fought out a tight head to head sprint with Handford just getting the win by half a wheel. Dan Crossingham finished third with Wayne Callaghan fourth &  Phil Knowles in fifth.

                  B Grade had 8 eight starters & no clear favorite for the win. Jason Parker was an unknown quantity after a long abscence from racing. Matt Worth has not been training, Justin Woollard, also short on training  kilometres. Mick Godwin & Silas Sutherland were probably the in form riders with Godwin perhaps still struggling a little after a nasty fall in training. Worth & Woollard found the pace a little high & withdrew from the race after the second lap to leave six riders to fight out the finish. Silas Sutherland led out the sprint from a long way out & while the others looked at each other as to who would chase, Sutherland was on his way for the win. Anthony Cross held on for second place & Noel Mathiske third. Mick Godwin was fourth & Clint Squires fifth.

                  C Grade had a different look to it with Jake Schumacher, Tyler Nicholson, Oscar Watson-Sutherland having a ride up a grade from their usual D Grade, Shane Dowsett & Kellie Yeark having come back from B Grade. Jake Schumacher immediately made his prescence known by attacking early & putting one rider off the back from the start. Tyler Nicholson kept the pace high & Ben Haywood was the next to be dropped. Oscar Watson-Sutherland rode well but was a little outgunned & failed to finish. A few more D Grade rides for Oscar. After 39 kms it was a sprint finish with Bill Harris opening the sprint from a long way out. Russell Davis took on the challenge to catch & pass Bill but left himself with a long sprint. Ian Budden timed the sprint well & passed the tiring Davis for the win. Davis held on for second with Tyler Nicholson accounting for Harris & taking third. Harris held on to fourth & Jake Schumacher took fifth.

                  Jono Wright featured in a two man breakaway with Barry Lambert in the D Grade race. Darren Harvey, Jodie Lee Flanagan-Schneider & Stephen Nicholson were left to chase for the duration, but came up short with Jono taking the win from Barry with Darren Harvey coming the best of the rest in third, Jodie Lee fourth & Stephen Nicholson fifth.

                  E Grade was the battle of the girls over one lap of the course. Caroline Pattison showed she has good form to take the win from Amber Piper in second, Paula Callaghan in third & Belinda Crossingham fourth. Well done ladies. 

                  Our Junior riders raced for the Budden family trophy. With no results in front of me, I can only remember that Kayne Budden was the winner from a handicap start. Full results next week.