Coota Cycle Club Summer Series Round 2 Sunday 15th December 2013
Race Report – “Scratch Take the Points as Favourite Flats!”
Great weather conditions greeted the starters for the second round of the Summer Series on Sunday. With some first round starters missing, the gaps were made up by some first-time series riders, and a field of 23 was assembled by the handicapper Zeke.
Simon Thompson’s return saw him leave off the 12 minute mark with Phil Bowden and Barry Rose. Chasing them off second limit 5 minutes behind was series joint favourite Phil Davies (moved back one group following his win the week before), Peter Lott, Darren Garnon and Tim Condon. Dave Holder made his long-anticipated return to racing off the third-limit bunch, a further 2 minutes back, and pushed his group of Marty Ryan and Jack Stratford hard all the way out to the turn.
The other joint favourite for the overall title, Scott McLeod, led the fourth-limit group only 1 minute behind. He was ably assisted by Rod Holder, Kevin Ford, Anthony Dean and Michael Crowe (cruising on his track-bike!). It was decided there would be no block group so Dave Jarvis, Jamin Hall and Garry ‘Retro’ Halloran headed off from fifth limit only 2 minutes in front of scratch.
The scratch bunch this week were 5 riders strong with the consistent Peter Telford, Sean Williams, Steve Franklin and Anthony Sleeman joined by Hamish Nott. Sleeman was a little tired after pedalling into a headwind all the way from Temora for his ‘warm-up’! Despite Sleeman dragging the chain, scratch were able to combine with fifth-limit on the hill before the turn. These riders also collected Dave Holder, who became the gate-keeper for the remainder of the trip home.
With scratch and fifth-limit working well together they soon had fourth limit in their sights. By this time fourth and third-limits were together. Series co-favourite Phil Davies had suffered a flat tyre by this stage much to Scott McLeod’s joy. Once again Anthony Dean was among the strongest riders in the race and prevented his group getting caught too early.
By Dinyah on the way home a large peloton had formed with all groups involved and Holder still on the gate being ably assisted by Rod Holder. With 2km to go Mick Crowe and Kevin Ford started to increase the pace and stretch the field out. McLeod struck out for glory at the turn but ran out of puff just as quickly. He was swallowed up by the scratch riders in the main sprint who took all the spoils. Nott came out on top just ahead of Telford, Williams, Sleeman and Franklin; and also took the fastest time of 38 minutes and 12 seconds.
The last race before Christmas is this Sunday and will be the last chance for points before the series resumes in February. Current top 5 standings 1st Phil Davies 13 points, 2nd Nott 12 points, 3rd equal 9 points McLeod and Telford, 5th equal 6 points Ford and Williams. For the full table click here