Lots to get through this weekend…
Last gravity night for the season
By Kate and Dave Empey
Dirt Crits avoided threatening rain clouds for another dusty night. 13 riders in total climbed the hill for another President’s Challenge evening.
First run down took its first casualty with Cooper taking a little dirt nap on the last dusty corners; but regained his composure to cross the finish with a time of 3.21. However, he had to head home to fix a flat tyre.
Second lap saw Ryder again fastest with 3.53 and fastest overall. Micah Chadd’s showing huge improvement coming in 3rd.
Cam Dobson and Willem Morphett showed great consistency with both laps the same.
Alastair Ross survived his dad’s maintenance regime and will need to revue the rattle in his front brake.
Dave Bock had a Little Rock garden excursion at the top where he left his bike behind and went for a stroll, only to then finish the track.
Cody Stephens put in an impressive ride in jeans & work boots as he came straight from work.
Chris Williams, after a fall whilst tyre testing, finished first in the e-bike category.
Results
Gravity: 1st Ryder Chadd, 2nd Cam Dobson, 3rd Micah Chadd, 4th Damian Grundy and equal 5th Ben Grundy and Cody Stephens.
Handicap: 1st Ben Grundy, 2nd Willem Morphett, 3rd Alastair Ross, 4th Cody Stephens and again equal 5th Micah Chadd and Lucas Belman.
Here are the full, detailed results.
Racing in the rain
By Dave ‘The Handicapper’ Jagger
You know that the race season is coming to a close when a cool, south westerly wind is blowing with rain showers. The weather was cold enough to have some riders pull out before the start.
Fifteen hardened riders still competed in the penultimate race and were led off by the David pair of Jagger and Bock. They headed off quickly, not to get a headstart but to warm up!
Craig Wilson and Janine Appleton were following four minutes behind.
The Barwite loop course is short but it does include the Coombesberg, a short, steep section of pain at the start of the Old Tolmie Road. This section of the course will separate the good hill climbers from the less-good hill climbers.
The block (second last) group to head out was made up of Simon Mulvihill, Adrian Dowd and Tim Ross. Simon was unable to hold on up the Coombesberg resulting in him crossing the finish line last.
Bruce Halket, fresh off a podium mountain bike result on the weekend was able to get away from the Scratch group up the Coombesberg and kept in front of his group for the race.
The ride along the Barwite Road was straight into a solid headwind which favoured the competitors riding in a group. The Davids worked well together and held the lead with David Bock coming home the winner. Craig was slightly stronger riding upwards towards the finish at the showgrounds than Janine to finish third.
Bruce managed to hold off the Scratch group to finish fifth with the rest of the riders finishing in the next twenty seconds.
Here are the results and thanks to a very damp Tony Copland for the race images.
One more race left next week with the 2025/26 championship results still open to several competitors. Last week’s points leader, Steve Duke, by his own admission had a bad night on the bike and has given way to this week’s winner, Dave Bock. Bocky leads with 106 points ahead Steve on 99, Wil on 97 and Simon Hall on 95. Breathing down their necks is the Handicapper on 90. One race left!
Shifty Fifty Round 1 - Woodend
By Tim Ross
Sunday saw the first of the Shifty Fifty series decided.
The Shifty Fifty is a series of seven events over autumn/ spring. The course is generally a mixture of single trail and bush tracks. The main event is the Shifty Fifty, generally two laps of the course. Also on offer is the Shifty Shorty (25km, one lap) and the Shifty Smally (usually about 10km, aimed at kids or riders wanting a first taste of MTB racing). The events are part race (for those that want to go hard) and part participation event with many riders just looking for a well-organised, longer ride at some great venues.
Sunday’s ride was in the Wombat State Forest just out of Woodend, incorporating the Wombat MTB Trails and some adjoining fire road, and had over 200 starters. MMBCC was represented by three Rosses and one Dobson. On this occasion, the day was fine and cool, but some overnight rain had made the trails particularly greasy.
Ruby did her 50km in 2h47m to place first in Open Women!
Ben knocked out his first 50km event in 2h45 to place third in U19 Men, Alastair tried out the Shifty Smally placing 4th in 42m, while Tim went for the 25km event and but for an unfortunate mechanical would possibly have beaten them all (end result, DNF).
Next race in the series is a Creswick in a fortnight, with races in Anglesea, Yackandandah, Gippsland and Warburton later in the year. A great option for anyone who’d like to keep their XC legs turning over during winter.
Dirt Critters
Junior Dirt Critters ventured away from Rifle Butts last Tuesday for their annual ride along the Delatite River from Carters Rd to Mirimbah (and back). This is a real highlight for the kids with the trail being flattish and fun to ride.
As is usual Luke led the faster kids at the front, parents Cam and Greg (thanks guys) kept order in the middle while Tim played sheepdog at the back (this was more challenging than usual after one of his cranks dropped off the bike!).
Despite staying dry in Mansfield, it was a bit damp in the foothills but our intrepid crew mainly dodged the showers and ended up only a little bit wet.
Weekend Results
VIC ENDURO SERIES, Rd 2 - Lake Mountain
Nicole Hoebergen - 1st, Vets 35-44 Female
Ryder Chadd - 8th, U21 Male
Lucas de Vent - 11th, U17 Male
Cooper Hoebergen - 4th, U15 Male
SEYMOUR BROADFORD CC ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS - Avenel
Mark Ruttiman - 1st, B-Grade