A warm Autumn Sunday morning created an excuse for many riders preparing for this years Haycarters race a chance to test their legs a fortnight out from the big event. In all 22 riders signed on for the race, a good turnout considering a few regular Cootamundra riders were missing due to the Tumut for the mountain bike race on Sunday afternoon.
With regular handicapper Peter Rees away for the morning it was up to the ever-reliable “Fox” Manning to decide the handicaps. Limit were to start off a generous 12 minutes with the group consisting of Robyn McClintock-Holder, Carmel Payne and Janine Hobson of Young. The next group started at 9 minutes and 45 seconds from scratch and consisted of Bill Lang, Penny Nott and Steve Green. They were being referred to at the start as “Fox’s Foxers” for many of the latter groups thought this group was far too strong for their handicap and self-claimed ‘lack of fitness’!
Following them a further 2 minutes back were Phil Davies (starting behind his daughter), David Lang (starting behind his father), Barry Rose and Tim Dowling. Peter ‘Hot Pants’ Lott, Simon Hobson, Chris Hall and the ever improving Tim Condon started second block another 3 minutes behind. These groups worked well but were always going to find it hard to stay away with the firepower behind.
The chopping block was made up of local riders Brendan Forsyth and Paul Deep who combined with Garry ‘Retro’ Halloran (Grenfell) and Shaun Stewart (Young). Scratch gave block 2.15 minutes start and consisted of Mark Ward, Frank Stephens, Sean Williams (Young) and Kevin ‘Lefty’ Goodman (Young).
By the ironbarks on the way out second limit were closing in fast on limit and in fact rode straight through the limit group over the hill with Nott and Lang showing a clean pair of heels over the rise. So much for being ‘underdone’ and not ‘race-fit’!
The chasing groups of block, second block and scratch combined over the final hill on the way out as a few riders were dropped from the front groups. This formed a large chase group who worked well together to try and catch the front markers. The group of Davies and company had begun to splinter and were stuck in no-mans land between the large chasing bunch and the burglars from second limit.
By the time scratch passed the ironbarks a four minute gap still had to be made up to the duo out in front and it looked like The Fox had once again looked after his beloved frontmarkers. Despite the best efforts of the now large chase group, Bill and Penny who were still working well together, were not to be caught. Alas earlier fears about the large head-start were realised as Penny finished the stronger of the two with Bill taking second place. In the bunch sprint for third Sean Stewart led home Lefty Goodman and Franklin Stephens. Lefty also took out fastest time in a slick 37 minutes and 33 seconds for the 26km course.
It was great to see so many riders racing at this time of year and hopefully more will turn out for next weeks Club Race – the last before the Haycarters Handicap weekend.