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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MMBCC race report - by Bruce Halket.
Cash! The lure of the filthy lucre brought out a large field of 32 riders for the MMBCC’s Hotel Delatite Christmas Handicap on Thursday 20 December on the Mansfield-Whitfield Road. The Hotel had generously donated a whopping $300 in prize money; plus more from the club made a total prize pool of $400!
Ten and a half minutes separated the lone Limit rider, Tony Morris, from the lone Scratch rider, Mitch Greenway. But in between were 30 other ‘money-hungry’ riders in six groups.
The biggest group, of seven, was ‘the Chopping Block’ which consisted of Mauro Brega, Bruce Halket, Andrew Gerrans, Stefan Vaivars, Laurie Harding, Ross Hopkins and Tom MacMunn. Mitch’s results in recent weeks have clearly shown he’s in very good form but giving this group of 7 a 30-second head start on a windy evening would prove difficult.
All groups started well, assisted by a reasonably strong southerly breeze. Even so, there were still a few early casualties of the hot pace: both Vaivars and Harding from Block and Tim Ross from the group ahead. The remains of Ross’ group - Darren Bakker, Josh Hopwood, Rob Greenway and Foley Lachal - were caught by Block just before the turnaround at Sawpit Gully Road; Mitch lurked just off the back and looked strong...
However, the second half of the race back into Mansfield proved Mitch’s undoing. On his own into a headwind trying to catch a group of 9 working well together proved a bit too difficult, even for him.
Block rolled turns into the headwind and had caught all the rest of the field by the Barwite Road hill, with about 2km to go! A large group of ‘passengers‘ on the back and a bit of jockeying for position meant a large, potentially dangerous sprint finish looked likely.
However, in a great move, MacMunn and Brega attacked on the last hill and opened a good lead. Etiquette dictates that in Handicap races, anyone that starts in your group is your team-mate until 200 metres from the finish - with no-one from Block prepared to chase down their team-mates, MacMunn and Brega had what looked to be a race-winning lead.
Chris Washusen had a try but couldn’t bridge the gap. Then Mick Feeney had a big ‘go’ and got the bunch a bit closer. Just after Redgum Court, Gerrans and Bakker turned on the afterburners and sprinted side by side to the line! Gerrans took the win by the narrowest of margins.
Halket took third ahead of Steve Plummer, Rob Greenway, Hopwood, Brega held on for 7th, Hopkins, Washusen and Feeney rounded out the top ten places. Thanks to the Hotel Delatite, they were all rewarded with a bit of Christmas spending money. Presentations back at the hotel also saw fastest time awarded to Gerrans (37min 49secs; an average of over 40km/h!)
Many thanks to our volunteers and officials: Julie, Jenny, Fiona, Rachel, Leonie, Tony and George. The Alpine Butchery voucher was awarded to George Chalk for his never-ending help with marshalling and officiating.
The MMBCC’s Summer Series resumes in 2013 on Thursday 17 January on the same ‘Tolmie Road’ course. Entries via SMS to 0438 513 355 by 8pm Wednesday 16 January please.
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MMBCC race report
A new course brought out a big field for the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club for the Handicap race on Howes Creek Road on Thursday 15 November. 33 riders were on the start list for the first new course in years - however only 32 actually raced. (More of that later!)
There were also a few new faces in the peloton; Tony Hausknecht was in for his first race after months of procrastination; Chris Munro and James Black visited from Melbourne, on their way to Jamieson for the weekend’s ‘Tour de Jamieson.’
With Dick Forrest a last moment withdrawal, Dave Clark and Chris Washusen led the field away as Limit. They were followed out over the next 9 minutes 15 seconds by six more groups, culminating in a large, 7-strong Scratch group looking to take its first win of the season.
A blend of smooth, even turns and shared workload saw Scratch start very quickly and catch Block before half-way. But this combined group of 12 didn’t work so well together; it was left mainly to Munro, Mitch Greenway, Mauro Brega and Darren Bakker to do most of the work to the turnaround.
Munro and Greenway reinforced their strength after the turnaround. As the slower groups were caught, they opened a small break to the rest of Scratch and Block within a couple of kilometres of the finish and were never caught. Greenway managed to take the win, and fastest time (of 44.39), just ahead of Munro.
In a sprint for the minor placings, Bruce Halket snatched third from Tim Ross and Ross Hopkins. Brega, Bakker, Hausknecht, Steve Plummer and Uschi Steedman rounded out the top ten.
Special mention has to be made of this week’s 33rd entrant; Dick Forrest. He drove in from Barjarg, jumped out of his ute in all his cycling gear, put his helmet and shoes on - ready to ride. The only problem is... he forgot the bike!
The ‘gutsy’ award from Alpine Butchery was awarded to Clark for hanging on grimly to the finish. The Mansfield Zoo voucher was almost awarded to Dick Forrest for being a ‘goose!’ But it eventually went to Munro; that should keep the kids entertained while he’s out riding the Tour de Jamieson.
After consecutive wins to Block on previous weeks, the ‘natural order’ was restored this week with Scratch holding sway. This and other slightly less-controversial topics were discussed in great depth at Hotel Delatite afterwards over dinner, many thanks to them and their patient maitre’d, Nick Popovic.
Many thanks to our volunteers and officials: Mick, Tony, Julie, Lachie, Mark, Helen, Leonie and Tom. Thanks also to the residents and motorists along Howes Creek Road; seeing bunches of bike riders in their ‘patch’ was an unfamiliar sight and we appreciate their patient and courtesy and hope you found the same from MMBCC members.
Next week’s race will be a Graded Scratch race on the Buller Road. Entries via SMS to 0438 513 355 by 8pm Wednesday please, no late entries will be accepted.
Bruce Halket
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Thursday evening Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club held a handicap race anti-clockwise around the Barwite Loop course, starting at the BP Roadhouse and finishing at Botanic Park. Some 25 riders greeted the starter.
The ‘limit’ group of David Jagger, Dave Clark, Dick Forrest and Chris Washusen were first off, followed at varying intervals by five other groups, then finally the ‘scratch’ bunch of Josh Hopwood, Bruce Halket, Laurie Harding and Ross Hopkins set off last, some seven and a half minutes later.
Alain Guerin struggled early, dropping off his group and earning himself a long lonely ride on his own. The outrageously steep pinch up Coombs Hill is always a nasty reality check but by and large groups stayed together as they struggled over it and started on the long ride back to Mansfield. Di Condie didn’t enjoy the climb, but had the good fortune and strength to join Steve Plummer and Mick Feeney as they went past.
The ride was all about the ‘block’ group (the second last group off) of Darren Bakker, Tim Ross and Cam Lachel however. After catching Plummer, Feeney and Condie going over Coombs Hill the now larger group gradually rounded up groups ahead on the long stretch up Barwite Road. Turning the corner into Tolmie Road for the final leg there was a long train of riders and before long the limit markers had been caught. Bakker and Lachel took turns to attack, but it’s hard to get away from such a large group, and coming up to the final hill you could throw a blanket over twenty riders.
Tim Ross and Bakker hit the hill hard, pulling thirty meters clear. With Bakker feeling the effects of his earlier efforts, Ross put his head down, peddled hard, was able to hold the advantage for a narrow but clear win. Bakker, Plummer and Christine Hopkins contested a tight sprint for the minor placing’s.
Scratch worked well together, but the two minute deficit proved too much, and when Bruce Halket crossed the line to record fastest time they were still 20 seconds behind the winner.
Handicapper Di Condie always aims for a tightly contested race and close finish, and so can be rightly proud of her efforts this week.
Riders then retired to sponsors Delatite Hotel for tea and post-mortems. Thanks to our volunteer marshalls including Julie Dolling, Jenny Lovick and Tony Ryan, and commissaire Sharron Jones, without whom our races couldn’t run. This week there will be a handicap race over a new 24km out Howes Creek Road, starting at the Lords Ground. Entries to Di Condie by 8pm Wednesday night please.
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Top Placings are:
1st - Mitch Greenway
2nd - Allan Gerrans
3rd - Foley Lachel
For all other placings - CLICK HERE.
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Mansfield-Mt Buller Cycling club's summer road series kicked off last Thursday with, ironically, a fresh dump of snow as the backdrop for the Whitfield Rd graded scratch. In A grade, Bruce Halket, Josh Hopwood, Jock Brega and Tim Ross took off whilst Ian Conrick, Di Condie, Steve Plummer, Allan Gerrans, Rod Stewart and Christine Hopkins started two minutes later in B Grade. Dick Forrest, Geoff Jones, David Bock and Daryl Rielly made up the C Grade bunch.
Bruce Halket tried an attack off the front before the turnaround but found his colleagues were on the ball and quickly reeled him in. Without any further action the bunch headed to the line with Tim Ross making a decisive move with fifty meters to go and taking the resulting victory.
In B Grade, Steve, Ian and Christine put the pressure on prior to the turnaround and split the bunch. Steve and Chris then jumped Ian at Possums before Steve applied his years of experience to overtake Christine in what was a great first ride for her.
C grade worked together for a lot of the course before separating into personal comfort zones and finishing separately with Geoff Jones looking strong and taking out an easy first place. Christine took out the Alpine Butchery best effort award. Thanks to them and the Delatite Hotel for sponsoring the evening.
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The Winter road series wrapped up on the weekend.
THanks to all the volunteers for their help.
Summer series starts in October.
CLICK HERE for Winter Series Results.
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MMBCC road race report
Black and Tan. The mere words strike fear into the heart of many a member of the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club. Not because they fear a mix of stout and lager at the post-race carbohydrate re-fuelling. It’s because the Black and Tan is a road race which mixes the black of sealed roads with the tan of dirt roads.
A sunny Sunday (29 April) morning saw six of the club’s ‘hardest’ members line up for a start - five of them handicapped by a late night at Jane’s Diplock’s Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser 80’s night - with far too many carbohydrates consumed! A seventh entrant, Darren ‘Cher’ Bakker, was so severely handicapped by the 80’s night that he wasn’t even able to get out of bed, let alone make the startline.
First to start from the BP Roadhouse was Di Condie as the Limit group off 11 minutes and 30 seconds. She was followed by Craig ‘Wil’ Wilson off 8:30; Steve Flew off 5:30; Mauro Brega and Bruce Halket off 1:00 and Josh Hopwood was the ‘lucky bloke’ to start on his own as Scratch.
The first 6km were ridden on the Buller Road heading towards Merrijig and were relatively uneventful. However, the first left turn onto Scully’s Lane and onto the dirt was followed soon after by the first casualty - Wil had just caught and passed Di when he punctured half way along Sculley’s Lane. So he was forced to wait for Tony Ryan in the safety car for a lift as he watched the rest of the field go past.
The middle 15km back on tarmac saw the next ‘casualty’ as Di Condie was caught again. She couldn’t stay with Steve but managed to hang onto Jock and Bruce as they came through, forming the biggest bunch of the race; and Josh wasn’t far back.
From the heady heights of the ‘Barwite HIll’ the ‘peloton’ could see Steve a long way ahead but, with another section of dirt to come, thought they still had a chance. But the bunch started breaking up on Mt Battery Road: first Di dropped off near the Showgrounds, then Bruce almost fell off with surprise when he dropped Jock on the second ‘tan’ section.
However, Steve was just too strong - not attending the 80’s night did his riding no harm! He turned off the dirt and onto Graves Road to win well clear of the field in a time of 1 hour, 4.23 minutes (corrected to 58.23.)
Bruce managed to hang for second (and fastest time of 55.07) over a minute later, just ahead of Jock, Josh and Di.
For his win, Steve won a free entry into the 2013 SCODY High Country Cycle Challenge, which was well worth getting out of bed for!
Many thanks to all our officials: Leonie, Tony, Laurie, Tony and Dave. (Yes, two Tonys!)
MMBCC Dirt Crits continue at the Riflebutts Reserve each Sunday and a Social road ride will be held between Alexandra and Eildon (with lunch at Alex) on Sunday 6 June. Details of all these rides on the calendar page. And photos on the pictures page.
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About eighty members, family and friends of the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club attended the end of summer season picnic and presentations at Mirimbah Park on Sunday.
In beautiful autumn conditions some of the roadies rode from Mansfield with five really earning their lunch by going up and down Buller on the way. A mass of the mountain bike crew headed up Buller for a variety of rides before descending River Spur to meet for lunch.
Road Results
In the road season results, Tony Williams edged into the top ten on 54 points with Steve Plummer 9th on 59 points. Both were pleased to end the season with a top ten finish. Ahead on countback, Rob Greenway had a steady season on 59 and last years' winner, Craig Wilson was 7th. Craig rode well towards the end of the season rising to the "block after block" group. Jock Brega (66), Will MacDonald (68) and Andrew Gerrans(79) were all quiet achievers to fill the next placings. At the very pointy end Stefan Vaivars, Bruce Halket and Josh Hopwood had all been training consistently with a focus on the season premiership. With a tactical sprinting edge, Josh (108 points), was able to hold off Bruce(101) and Stefan(92) to take out the perpetual trophy for 2011/2012.
The Summer season ladder can be found on the web site – CLICK HERE.
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A beautiful warm Autumn evening greeted riders who’d entered the final round of the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club Summer Series on Thursday 29 March on the Mt Buller Road.
It was meant to be a Team Time Trial contested between teams of six; but as entries were a little on the lean side, team size was reduced to just two!
The team size reduction was all part of the Handicapper’s cruel and sadistic plan to find a summer series champion. Five of the riders near the pointy end of the series point scores are from the usual Scratch group: Josh Hopwood, Stefan Vaivars, Andrew Gerrans, Mauro Brega and Bruce Halket. If the race had been ridden in teams of six as planned, those five would likely have ridden together - and all received the same result as each other.
So they were separated into teams of only two to make it more likely to get different times; and to make it much, much harder (just for the fun of it!)
Seventeen riders entered, meaning seven teams of two and a single team of three.
Fastest time and the win went to Josh and Bruce. Their time of 32.19 over the 22km translates to an average speed of 41km/h! Josh rode an awesome time trial and Bruce did all he could to hang on!
Second place went to Steve Flew, Steve Plummer and Ian Conrick in a corrected time of 32.34 (actual time 36.14.) Third went to Peter Ellett and Tony Williams in 32.41 (39.11) ahead of Di Condie and John Eisner in 32.56 (38.56) while Stefan and Mauro rounded out the top five in 33.04.
The Teams of Two Time Trial was a well-received format and it might see a return next summer. Many thanks to our volunteers and officials: Annie, Gwen, Leonie, Sharron, John and George.
All MMBCC members should make a note in their diary for Sunday 15 April. This will see social road and mountain bike rides concluding at Mirimbah - where presentations will be held for both the Summer Road Series and the Summer Dirt Crits. Check the club website - www.mmbcc.org.au - for more details in the coming weeks.
Also on the website will be details of the upcoming Autumn Series’ for both road and mountain bikes.
In the meantime, employers are asked to take pity on MMBCC members on Monday mornings in April, as they'll be sitting up late on Sunday nights for the next month, to watch the Spring Classics from Belgium and northern France. It all starts with the Tour of Flanders on Sunday 1 April, followed by Paris-Roubaix on Sunday 8 April, Amstel Gold on Sunday 15 April and finishes with Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday 22 April. Simon Gerrans is a likely starter in the final two of these classics and will be a big chance!
CLICK HERE - for results.
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