A Grade. 

A Grade started at a steady pace with no real movement from the participants.  Everyone seamed content to work together. 

Into the second lap half way down Grays road saw the first of the attacks with Steve Cunneen launching a small effort.  This was more of an effort to see what sort of a response he would get from the bunch.  With a howling wind at their backs, they bunch stepped up the pace and brought the race back together fairly quickly.  A few smaller attempts where made to get away from the group but given the small size of the bunch and the windy conditions everyone seamed content to keep the race together and these attempts where all brought back very quickly.   

With all things back to normal,  local powerhouse James Langedyk shouldered a majority of the workload whilst the bunch was contending with the block head wind up Hendy Main and Larcombes Roads.  This was just an indication that he was toying with all the riders and just waiting for his time to show his strength. 

On the last lap Shaun Gilbert decided to attack upon reaching the crest of the Forest Road climb.  The bunch was a little slow to react which enabled him to gain a small lead.  The strong tail wind down Grays road enabled the bunch to get their act together and gather in the attack just before the turn into the finishing straight.     

A little cat and mouse proceeded, with a numbers of riders trying to get clear in the run to the line.  Steve Cunneen found himself on the front with about 500 metres to go and upon realising his unfortunate situation he decided to wind up the pace. 

As he swung the bunch decided to sprint for the line with a few hundred metres to go.  Needless to say our resident VIS athlete took the win closely followed by John Burrt on 2^nd and James Stokie 3^rd .  

A Grade Placings:

• 1st James langedyk
• 2nd John Burtt
• 3rd James Stokie

B Grade     

B Grade riders began their race in a civil and orderly fashion with riders keeping a strong, steady pace and swapping turns amicably.

Hostilities started into the second lap on the rises up Forrest Rd when Stan Gregorio decided to stretch his legs and test the field.  Kerryn Charman was quick to reply with a counter attack that raised the stakes and brought young gun Lachlan Doak out to play who then with the initial instigator opened a respectable but not overwhelming gap.

After a short conference the two decided to hold up a little and see if they could entice a third rider to join them and improve their odds of staying away. Scott Simon in his first race, and riding strongly, soon obliged. The trio then set out to press their advantage but were unable to make sizable gains as Don Wilson, Kerryn Charman, and Felicity Wilson were dogged and persistent in their chase. They were never out of sight and still in the race until the last lap when Felicity, riding valiantly in her first B Grade encounter, and Kerryn, who was not at her best on the day, succumbed, leaving the ever tenacious Don Wilson to try and pursue the trio on his own.

Into the last lap and confident they finally had the race,  the fun and games began again with Stan and Lachlan launching multiple attacks that Simon was able to close down until Lachlan finally broke well clear, riding away strongly to greet the flag and the cheers of the spectators. Simon Scott worked hard all day and gifted Stan a delightful lead-out in the sprint for second place.

B Grade Placings:

• 1^St Lachlan Doak
• 2^nd Stan Gregorio
• 3^rd Scott Simon 

A Big thanks goes to our race volunteers for the day in Jonathon Meadows, Paul Jane, Anne Gourley, Mitch Gourley, Marcus Wettenhall and Phil Spark.   

Our next club race is the Wood / Sellers Handicap at St Leonards. 

Our race co-ordinator for the day will be Danny Connor. 

Our Marshals are:

• Anthony Reyntjes
• Aaron Box
• Marcus Falconer
• Stan Gregorio
• Daniel Langedyk

Note: Marshals need to make themselves available at least 45 minutes prior to race start. 

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