Last weekend at Mt Major

Just after we hit publish last weekend, news came through that Matt Empey won the Elite Men category at round 2 of the Victorian Down Hill Series at Mt. Major at Dookie, near Shepparton.

He is now leading the VDHS!

He broke his bike during practice then he and coach/mechanic/Dad Dave couldn’t fix it on Saturday night. So Elise lent him her Atherton bike. No confirmation yet on whether this means he automatically gets a spot on the Atherton World Cup Team.

(Imagine how good these two could ride if they used shoes!)

In other results Spencer Carmen finished 20th in the very competitive U19 Men and Stu Clark finished 3rd in Veteran Men.

Here are the results.

different grundy wins irish handicap

By Kate Stonnill

Senior Dirt Crits went ahead last Tuesday night despite many riders’ unavailability due to end-of-year commitments.

Damian set the course and passed the baton to son Ben to set out the arrows. Thanks to Ben and also Spencer who assisted.

Nine riders lined up for an Irish Handicap set by Damian. Bruce was first off after his warm up, getting to the race with only a couple of minutes to catch his breath. Ben Ross followed soon after and the race for speed was on, as they were the only two riders chasing five laps.

Next up was Dave Bock, Steve Curnow, then 30 seconds later Luke Vivash, Ben Grundy and newcomer Jasper Watts, all on 3 laps. Then we had a bit of a wait for Lucas Mennen and Micah Chadd to set off on their 2 laps.

The racing was close with Ben breaking away from Bruce on their third lap; Bruce’s elbows weren’t wide enough to keep Ben behind him forever.

First rider in was Ben Grundy who felt advantaged but deserved the win.

Second was Luke Vivash whose fitness is returning, third Micah Chadd, Dave Bock 4th, in 5th was Lucas Mennen (who has shown improved fitness and skill). Then came Steve Curnow 6th, Ben Ross 7th, Bruce Halket 8th and Jasper Watts 9th.

Here are the results.

Next week it’s another Gravity Handicap at Rifle Butts.

Will wins in Jamieson

By Dave Bock

The twenty eight kilometre Jamieson course is one of the favourites of many Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club roadies. Twenty two riders gathered in Jamieson, to compete out along the Woods Point Road to the end of the bitumen and back.

A big MMBCC welcome to first time racer Will Rooks and to a gaggle of semi-regular Eastern Cycling Club visitors for the night - Craig Oliver, Dale Walton, Dean Tune and Craig Standard.

First out, solo, was Jarrah O’Brien, with a three minute head start on Dave Jagger, and double that on the trio, Dave Bock, Tim Hall and Will Rooks.

Janine Appleton, Steve Curnow, Mark Ruttiman and Craig Wilson started their chase along the picturesque Goulburn River Valley, nine minutes after the start, and Jarrod Appleton and Adrian Dowd, another two minutes later. The biggest group comprising Steve Duke, Heath Hammond, Tim Ross, Dean Tune and Craig Oliver was started at fourteen and a half minutes.

The Block group, Simon Hall, Ben Ross, and Oliver Hall, set out at 16 minutes. The three Scratch riders, Dale Walton, Craig Stannard and Ryder Chadd, the last to start, had a full seventeen and a half minute gap to overcome, if they were to overtake Jarrah, the first to start.

“What kept you?” was the greeting Dave, Tim and Will received from Dave Jagger, as they gathered him up south of Kevington. They passed Jarrah just after the turnaround but the next steep pinch showed the superior legs of Will Rooks, who was told to go for gold, while Tim eased off to stay with the two Dave’s.

Will would not be caught, crossing the finish line three minutes clear of Bocky, Tim H and Dave Jagger.

Only 52 seconds elapsed before a big bunch finish, of Dean, Jarrod, Adrian, Heath, Craig O, Mark, Steve Duke, Janine, Craig W and Tim Ross, with Steve Curnow only spitting distance, 12 seconds, behind.

Ryder Chadd (who claimed fastest time of 47.06) came in with Ben with Craig S, 32 seconds later. Oliver and Simon came in together, followed by Jarrah, then Dale.