Once again the afternoon start proved a popular move attracting a larger group of riders for the weekly Cycle Club road event on Berthong Road. In all 14 riders made the start including riders from Young and Grenfell giving the handicapper some harder work.
Limit had a gap of 3 minutes to their nearest chasers and consisted of Phil Davies, Anthony Dean, Barry Rose and Janine Hobson. Chasing from second limit were Rod Holder, Edwina Hobson and Al Baker. New International License holder Kevin Goodman was joined in scratch by Pete Telford, Brendan Forsyth and Frank Stephens. They gave the block group of Gary Halloran, Hamish Nott and Marty Ryan a 1.5 minute start – no doubt the handicapper had been informed of Ryan’s form on the Thursday club ride!
In an unusual circumstance all groups came together on the last climb on the way out to the turn. Handicapper Pete Rees put this down to the form of scratch riders Goodman and Telford who are in training for the state Team Time Trial championships in two weeks in Nowra. They were ably assisted by Frank and Brendan who were going strong.
The way home was uneventful until Goodman attacked at Dinyah splitting up the group of eight that were left in two groups of four. Only Telford, Forsyth and Nott were able to keep up and these four would sort out the finish. As Nott tired at the home turn it was left to Forsyth to come over the top of the tiring older duo in the finish for the win. This was also fastest time with the riders breaking 39 minutes for the first time since the warmer months.