Last Sunday was the last race of our summer criterium series with the Club Championship at Alumina Road in Rockingham.
With only two riders in E grade, they started with D grade. The pair only had to race 25 minutes and a lap compared to D grade’’s 30 minutes and a lap. Keely Bunton did an impressive job holding on to D grade for almost 15 minutes as riders attacked, the pace surged, then eased as the attackers were caught. Mari Turner did an even better ride, claiming the win and. auditioning for D grade, staying with bunch for 25 minutes and only lost the wheel when D grade surged with two laps to go.
D grade was attack, surge and chase the break back, slow, repeat. Then with two laps to go the pace picked up, then approaching the final lap Cathy Bush attacked and got a good lead, unfortunately in the words of Bush “the lap was too long” was caught prior to the final lap. Which saw Caleb Datson and Sam Castle attacked and carried their speed through the final corner, while the bunch did not. Datson outsprinted Castle for the win. Daniel Jones was third. Donna Dixon lead the women home ahead of Michelle Wang, with Bush third.
The juniors then took to the circuit for 10 minutes and a lap. With only two riders, it was Oliva on the front with Charlie on her wheel for most of the race. Rounding the corner Charlie attacked and took the win. Olivia finished second and will not be repeating that tactic again.
C was a repeat of D, albeit a little faster as riders attacked, the bunch chased hard, then the pace eased right off when break was caught. It also ended in a bunch sprint with Hayden Thorpe first, Andrew Crack second and Thomas Crigan third. Belinda Alcock was the first women finisher, with Katrina McLennan second and Zoe Stolton third.
With only eight riders in B grade, it was a far more sedate race than usual. After a few attacks it ended in a bunch sprint which was won by Ricky Pedersen, with Zander Mostert second and Mikey Hoskens third.
A grade saw an early break of three riders. Then a rider fired across the gap to make it four. The gap grew but another rider bridged across, then another. The six kept increasing their lead, the chasing group never got organised, as individual riders tried to get across the gap and failed. Then the chasers realised it was over and sat up. Kye Bonser won the sprint from the leading group, with Wade Longworth second and Mohammad Syairazy third.
