31 March 2013 - Summer Series results

Overall Road Racing results for the 2012 / 13 Summer Series.

Sheet 1 is alphabetical, and Sheet 2 in Results order.

CLICK HERE for the results.

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21 February - Bakker Plumbing Handicap results

In contrast to the hot weather seen over the past few weeks the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Clubs race last Thursday was held with lightning flickering in the distance and the threat of being caught in a downpour.

Generously sponsored by Bakker Plumbing, twenty two cyclists headed out on the Howes creek Rd course. A last minute scratching left Clare Bennetts off limit by herself in her first race. This left Julie Dolling , Di Condie and Dick Forrest chasing with the bunch of Guerin , Jagger , Riley , Conrick and Bock next in line.

Despite lack of any real road time the bunch of Feeney, Friday , Calvert-Jones , Copland , Wilson and Eisner charged off next chased by Plummer , Christine Hopkins , Beattie and Macdonald. Scratch was last to leave , comprised of Halket , Ross Hopkins and Bakker.

Bennetts rode solidly and noisily on her bike and did well to hold off the bunch until after the turnaround. Jagger's bunch was sorting itself out coming out of the turnaround as the bunch of Feeney etal closed in. It seemed inevitable that the groups would join however after a good tunaround the group was not seen again. Halket , Bakker and Hopkins worked well to join block and it seemed they too would reel in the slower groups however a series of efforts fragmented the group and similarly other groups cracked giving David Jagger the opportunity to push out for a good win.

Julie Dolling rode consistently to place second and Ian Conrick tactically completed the podium. Ross Hopkins edged out Bruce Halket in a good finish for fastest time.

Thanks to Darren and Trish Bakker for sponsoring the night as well as the Alpine Butchery and the Delatite Hotel. Thanks too to our usual officials and helpers and the residents of Howes Creek.

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14 February - Stewart Buslines Straight Line Sprint Results

World-first race format for MMBCC.

The Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club’s usual races are Handicap, Graded Scratch and an occasional Individual Time Trial.

But they say a change is as good as a holiday!

In what we think is a first (Possibly not a World-first but we’d go as far to claim an Australian-first) the race on Thursday 14 February saw a new ‘4-up sprint’ race format to give members a bit of a holiday.

The Stewart Buslines 4-up Sprint was held on Graves Road on a course only 800 metres long! (Sounds like a bit of a doddle, really.)

Heats were raced with four riders per heat. Based on the number of entrants, each rider had to compete in four heats; and there wasn’t much time to rest between heats! The best four points scorers from each grade then lined up for the grade final.

This four-up format brought together a unique combination of the tactics of track sprinting, the four-rider format of skier/boardercross and the point scoring of BMX.

20 entrants were divided up into two grades of 10; a total of 10 heats for each grade.

We certainly haven’t heard of the same format before. It seemed to go down very well with riders and spectators. The only voice of dissent heard was that of Dave Clark, who either needs to do some interval training, or needs to complain more quietly!

B-Grade came down to a final between David Jagger, Tim Hall, Rod Stewart and Uschi Steedman; Steedman proved too strong to win clearly from Hall, Stewart and Jagger.

A-Grade saw Tim Ross, Steve Plummer, Darren Bakker and Bruce Halket make it through to the final. In the closest finish of the night, Bakker managed to come around Halket on the line to take the win by a wheel. Ross took third ahead of Plummer.

Many thanks to Stewart Buslines for their sponsorship of the new race and their well-received prize money. Thanks also to Leonie, Lisa, Loretta, Annie and Di for officiating; and to all the spectators who lined the course at the finish line!

The MMBCC’s Summer Series continues on Thursday 21 February with the Bakker Plumbing Handicap on Howes Creek Road; starting at the Lord’s Ground. This is another of the club’s feature races of the summer with $300 of prize money up for grabs. Entries via SMS to 0428 503 437 by 8pm Wednesday 20 February please.

Cheers,

Bruce.

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Thursday 24 January - Whitfield Road

MMBCC race report



The first Handicap race of 2013 saw Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club members line up for the start at the Botanic Park on Thursday 24 January for 25km out to Sawpit Gully Road and back.

A stiff northerly headwind greeted the 16 riders. This brought a smile to the faces of the Scratch group riders; the headwind would theoretically favour them over the rest of the field. However, it would mean a very fast, return leg with such a strong tailwind.

First away was Tony Morris as the lone Limit rider off 17 minutes, followed by: Julie Dolling off 10.00; David Bock, Tim Hall and Tony Williams off 7.00; Steve Flew, John Lithgow, Tony Hausknecht and Christine Hopkins off 4.30; Chris Washusen, Bob Beattie and Will MacDonald made up the ‘Chopping Block’ off 4.00; and Scratch consisted of Ross Hopkins, Stefan Vaivars, Josh Hopwood and Bruce Halket.

With only 30 seconds separating Block and the group ahead, it was always likely these two groups would join together early, which they did. Good teamwork meant the seven worked well together into the wind.

Subsequently, Scratch rode all the way to the turnaround without catching anyone, making a mockery of their supposed advantage into the headwind.

Even before the turn, however, Scratch could see Morris still had a very healthy lead and would be difficult to catch.

Then the Indian connection kicked in.

The Hopkins’ have just returned from three weeks cycling in India and the fitness was evident on the way back into town. Christine had been working hard in the Block but Ross really turned the screws after the turn. It even proved too much for Hopwood who was dropped from Scratch just after Long Lane.

As Scratch neared their prey, Hopwood managed to will himself back into the group and took a huge turn up the Barwite Hill. Then Hopkins took over and, after a massive turn on the front which must have lasted a kilometre, attacked the Block group on the ‘Possums’ Hill and put a gap on them straight away.

Meanwhile, Morris quietly went about destroying the field. He crossed for the win 40 seconds clear in a time of 55.44.

Scratch stayed clear of Block despite Washusen and Hausknecht finally remembering what they were meant to do with their pedals. Halket took second ahead of Hopwood, Hopkins and Vaivars. But not far back were Beattie, MacDonald, Hausknecht, Washusen and Williams the final point scorer of the top ten.

As the first Scratchie home, Halket took fastest time of 39.24 and was awarded the Alpine Butchery award, possibly out of pity. Many thanks to Dave and Carol.

Many thanks also to Helen, Margaretanne, Dave, John, Darryl and George for volunteering and officiating and to the Hotel Delatite for the liquid post mortems.

The MMBCC’s Summer Series continues on January 31 with the notorious Black & Tan - a road race taking in a couple of dirt road sections. Sponsored by the SCODY High Country Cycle Challenge, the winner will win a free entry into the SHCCC on March 16 & 17, plus souvenir jersey and knicks. Entries via SMS to 0428 503 437 by 8pm Wednesday 30 January please.

RESULTS

1st - Tony Morris

2nd - Bruce Halket

3rd - Josh Hopwood

For all the results - CLICK HERE

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Thursday 17 January - Buller Road

RESULTS - Graded Scratch. Mt Buller Road. 17 January 2013.

A grade

1st Stefan Vaivars

2nd Bruce Halket

3rd Josh Hopwood

B grade

1st Chris Washusen

2nd Steve Plummer

3rd Will MacDonald

C grade

1st David Bock

2nd Julie Dolling

3rd Dick Forrest

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