The 47Km. Club Handicap at Woodstock attracted forty-five entrants—the course took the riders to Newbridge, heading over to Laanecoorie, then heading along the Maldon Bridgewater Road to Newbridge, then the last leg to Woodstock.The field was divided into eight groups with Limit twenty-two minutes ahead of Scratch. It was always going to be difficult for the Scratch bunch with only four riders, and they were unable to overtake any of the groups.

The two minute group also rode well, but to no avail.TheLimit bunch, with Wendy Bennett pushing the pace along, was maintaining it’s lead and was looking promising. Meanwhile the four minute bunch of C. Draper, S. Muller, T. Murphy, S. Wall, R. Gibson, R. McIntosh and G. Butcher had caught the six minute bunch half-way between Newbridge and Laanecoorie, and not long after Laanecoorie, pulled in the eight minute bunch, making a combined bunch of twenty-one riders. Towards the front of the race the eleven minute bunch had overtaken the sixteen minute bunch just after Laanecoorie, and this larger bunch was in hot pursuit of Limit.

Finally on the last leg towards Woodstock this group overtook Limit at the thirty-eight kilometre mark pushing the pace for the last nine kilometers. The combined 4-6-and 8 minute group was still pressing hard, and it was a group of about thirty riders heading for the finishing line. Rick Mc Intosh put in a massive sprint, and in a photo finish with Leigh Anne Dynon was just pipped on the line. The majority of riders finished within a 2min. 13 sec. time frame, an indication of good handicapping.

First L. Dynon in a time of 1Hr. 15min. 31 secs. [11m], 2nd R. McIntosh [4m], 3rd. G. Butcher [4m], 4th. R. Gibson [4m], 5th. S. Wall [4m], 6th. R. King [6m], 7th. T. Murphy [4m],8th. D. Barri [6m]

Fastest time A. Pascoe 1hr. 8min. 6secs. Average speed 41.6Kmh.

First unplaced female C. Fraser [8m]

Next week The 50Km. Peter Baker and Associates Handicap Woodstock 2 p.m.
Duty S.Fulford, D. Stewart, K. Waddington, D. Bakes, M. Angove

The 63Km. Danny Clapp Handicap was run in sunny but windy conditions. Starting at Newbridge heading out to Tarnagulla, turning west, over the hills of Moliagul , south to Dunolly, turning back through Tarnagulla, and finishing at Newbridge. The field of 45 riders was divided into seven groups with Limit heading off 32 minutes before Scratch.The limit group, with three riders, was struggling to keep ahead of the chasing group, and at the thirty-two kilometer mark, the twenty-three minute bunch, looking very strong, caught up, and for a while pulled them along. Meanwhile Scratch had caught the four minute group between Tarnagulla and Dunolly, however they just could not catch any others. In the middle of the field the eleven minute group of V. O’Brien, D. Barri, P. Stuckenscmidt, R. Lovell, G. Donaldson,

R. King,and R. Gilbey, were moving smoothly and caught the seventeen minute group at Dunolly, and it seemed the only group with a chance to catch the twenty-three minute group. However it was not to be with the twenty-three minute taking the first six places, it was V. O’ Brien who burst from the eleven minute group to get seventh place, in a great time,utimately finishing only fourteen seconds behind the rider with the fastest time.

First T. O’Brien 1hr. 55min. 09sec. [23 min.] 2nd.S. Smythe [23min.] 3rd. N. Hinton [23] 4th. K. McKredden [32min] 5th. J. Trickey [23] 6th. K. Hamilton [23] 7th. A. Berry [23]. 8th. V. O’Brien [11min.], 9th. D. Barri [11min], 10th. J. Farrow [17min].
Fastest time A. Pascoe 1hr. 34m 42s. Ave. Speed 40Kmh. 1st Unplaced female P. Robertson

Duty. P. Volk, C. Waddington, C. Wakeling, J. Wall, C. Weatheritt.
Next Week’s Race 47Km. Club Handicap Woodstock 2 P.M.

The Winter Aggregate Trophy, The Prestigious JT Trophy, will be supplemented this year with extra sponsorship from Peter Baker and Associates.

Resuts to the end of July are as follows; T. Pell 61 pts ,Chris Draper 56 pts. J. Mollison 55pts., B. Williams 53 pts., J. Thompson 49 pts.R. King 46 pts., A. Pascoe 45 pts.,R. Gibson 44pts., j. Trickey 39pts., J. Field 34pts., R. Lovell 32pts.,P. Volk 31pts.,K. Waddington 30 pts., D. Jane 28pts., M. Rankin 28pts.,C. Banfield 27pts., C. Harris 27pts., K. Lacey 27pts., G. Lockwood 27pts., G. O’Halloran 27., G. Bennett 26pts., T. Schintler 26., J. Macaque 25pts., P. Robertson 25pts., S. Smythe., T. Storer., 25pts., S. Auld 22pts., A Fitzpatrick 22pts., S. Thompson 22pts., C. Chambers 21pts., L. Dynon 21pts., D. Hare 21pts., T. Murphy 21pts., P. Pontell 21pts., R. Wright 21 pts., B. Jane 20pts., D. Stewart 20pts., K. Hamilton 20pts.

The thirty-one riders for the Bolton’s Office National 69.5 Handicap, faced cold, windy and wet conditions, many realizing that the strong cross winds would play havoc with the bunches, particularly along the long Maryborough Road leg. The field was divided into seven groups, with Limit thirty-eight minutes ahead of Scratch.

The field headed out down Power’s Road, along to Newbridge , continuing through Tarnagulla, then through Laanecoorie to the Maryborough Road, heading back to Woodstock to finish. The eleven minute group of D. Stewart, R. Gibson, R. Lovell, R. McCredden and D. Barri, was certainly the group to watch, working smoothly together catching the eighteen minute group about two kilometers into the Maryborogh Road, maintaining the charge to pick up the twenty-four minute group, and finally the Limit riders about six kilometers from the turn back to Woodvale.

Strong as this group was the race was not finished yet, the Scratch bunch of J. Macaque, T. Watchman, N. Shipp, A.. Pascoe, and J. Mollison, caught the four and eight minute groups by the Laanecoorie cross roads, leaving most riders in their wake, and finally catching the eleven minute group on the last hill before the six kilometre turn for home.

Scratch led this larger bunch home, with J. Macaque over the line first in a winning and fastest time of 1hr. 42min. 41 sec., [Ave. 40.8kmh.] 2. N. Shipp, [scr.] 3. J. Mollison, [scr.] 4. A. Pascoe, [scr.] 5. T. Watchman, [scr] 6. R. Gibson [11m], 7 T. Schintler [4m.]
8. S.Wall [8m],9. P. Volk [8m.], 10. R. Lovell [11m]

First unplaced female, l. Dynon

Next week 65Km. Danny Clapp “The Good Guys Handicap” 2pm.at Newbridge.
Duty. S. Thompson, N. Thompson, B. Tonkin, D. Trickey, R. Verkuylen

The field for the Woodstock 35km. Club Handicap was down on numbers, as a number of Club members were contesting The Rob Vernon 112km. Classic. However thirty-four riders faced up for the very windy 35km.The course took the riders down Powers road, then headed along the back stretch to Newbridge, then along the final 12km. leg finishing at Woodstock.

The field was divided into eight groups, with Limit starting fifteen minutes ahead of Scratch. It was to be a “Friendly” race with the 4min. bunch catching the 6min. bunch within the first 5km., and in turn, the at the 15km. mark, the combined 2 & 3min. bunch, had pulled in this group leaving a number of riders struggling to hold on. Meanwhile at the front of the race the limit riders were caught just after Newbridge by the combined 8 & 11min. groups.The 2 & 3 min. groups still riding strongly, had moved through the field to pick up the leaders about 8km. from the finish, with Scratch pushing strongly about 45seconds behind.

It was a large bunch that raced to the finish line with S. Wall [2m]. winning in a time of 53m 02s. [Ave. 39.7kmh] followed by C. Chambers [3m] R.Lovell [2m], R. Gilbey [3m], D. Hare [4m.], R. Gibson [2m.] and in 7th. place S. Auld [4m.]

Fastest Time D. Fogarty 52m. 31 sec. [Ave. 40kmh.]

First unplaced female A. O’Brien

Next Week Bolton’s Office National 60km. Handicap Woodstock 2 p.m.
Duty. S. Spencer, B. Steen, D. Stemmer, D. Stokes, P. Stuckenschmidt

Forty-two riders rolled up for the Newbridge 52km. Club Handicap. The route headed south through Tarnagulla, Dunolly, and heading back east towards Laanecoorie, then cutting back on the Eddington Road, finishing back at Newbridge. The course, always open to the elements, was going to be especially difficult with the low temperatures and strong wind.

The field was divided into nine groups, with Limit having a 28minute start on the Scratch group of J. Macaque, N. Shipp and T. Schintler. Scratch started well with the three riders combining well, and averaging about 40 kpm., but it was not until about 3km. from the finish that they pulled in the 1 minute group. Meanwhile the 3 min. group caught the 6.5 min. group at the 30km. mark.

However it was at the front of the field that the race was being won, 2nd. Limit caught the Limit just before Dunolly, continuing to work well together, maintaining the distances between the other groups, it was becoming evident that this was the “In-form” group, the one to beat. At this point groups had come together, making two groups of twenty plus, with the10 min. group holding its own, and chasing second Limit, but to no avail, the second Limit held off the challenge, finishing strongly.

Places. 1st. S. Smythe, [ 1hr. 37m. 56s] followed by P. O’Brien, W. Bennett, K. McCredden, J. Field, T. Pell, R. King,and in 8th. place S. Auld.

Fastest Time N. Shipp 1hr.17min.13sec., an average of 40.5 kph.

First unplaced female F. Medina

Next Week. 35km. Handicap at Woodstock.
Duty Roster. G. Saunders, P. Sawyer, T. Schintler, N. Sens, S. Smythe

1hr.17min. 13sec

The best conditions for some time encouraged an excellent turnout of 55 competitors for the 48 km July Feature Race sponsored by “Stewarts Accounting”. The race was conducted at Laanecoorie, and consisted of 6, 8 km laps of the circuit which took riders from Laanecoorie to the Maryboroough- Bendigo road then turning left down the Bridgewater Maldon road and back to the start via Cains road.

The good conditions and a flat track encouraged the riders and the speed was on right from the start. The 13 minute group got off to a good start and caught the 14 minute group just after the first lap. The 2 minute group was flying and caught the 4 minute bunch on the third lap. This group went on to catch the 6 minute bunch on the 5th lap. The rest of the field came together, just before the turn into Cains road producing a huge bunch of about 45 riders. The two riders off scratch chased hard but were unable to make up the deficit.

There were lots of moves within the bunch as riders tried to position themselves for the final sprint home. Terry Schintler from 2 minutes was the form rider of the day taking out first place and fastest time, completing the course in 1:15:28. Second, continuing his recent good form, was Brett Williams (2 min), 3rd Andy Hayhow (2 min), 4th Shane Thompson (2 min), 5th Rick McIntosh (4 min), 6th Barry Jane (2 min), 7th Chris Drapper (2 min), 8th Robert Gibson (6 min), 9th Murray Rankin (4 min), and in 10th place was Paul Dynon (2 min). Fastest unplaced lady was Pam Robertson (13 min)

Next week’s race is a 52 km handicap commencing at Newbridge at 2.00 pm. Officials for the day are G Patterson, G Pilcher, A Pitcher, P Pontell and A Sanford .

Despite the cold conditions, another good field of 45 riders took on the challenging Emu Creek circuit for Saturday’s 52 km “Nanga Gnulle” Handicap. The course took riders on two laps, starting at Emu Creek road then onto Story’s road, Sedgwick road, Axe creek road and back to Emu creek road.

The handicapper broke the field into 7 bunch’s. The 6 minute bunch was the form group of the day catching the 9 minute bunch at the completion of the first lap and the 15 minute group half way through the second lap. This bunch lost a few of the riders on the second time over the goose neck. Ultimate winner Brett Williams put the pressure on during the descent with speeds in excess of 70 km/hr.

Both scratch and second scratch (3 min) chased hard but were unable to catch any of the leading groups. The 6 minute group continued to reel in the lead groups catching the 20 min and limit (25 min) bunch’s on the last hill about 1 km from the line.

Brett Williams (6 min) prevailed in the sprint in a time of 1:22:11, 2nd was Rodger King (9 min), 3rd Craig Banfield (9 min), 4th Stuart Muller (6 min), 5th Ricky Lovell (6 min), 6th Rodger Gibson (6 min), 7th Shane Wall (6 min), 8th Darryl Stewart (6 min), 9th Paul Stuckenshmidt (6 min) and in 10 place was Pam Robinson (15 min).

First unplaced lady was Aileen O’Brien and the fastest time of the day was achieved by Nick Shipp completing the distance in 1:19:45. Following the race, riders and officials gathered at “Nanga Gnulle “for much appreciated hospitality provided by sponsor, Mick Anderson.

Next week’s race is the 48 km “Stewarts Accounting” Handicap commencing at Laanecoorie at 2.00 pm. Officials for the day are T Murphy, T O’Brien, G O’Halloran, D O’ Brien, and A Pascoe.

The worst conditions riders have faced for a long time reduced the field for the Central Victorian Veteran's Cycling Club race at Woodstock on Saturday to just sixteen tough competitors. Most warm-ups were done in front of the fire in the Woodstock Hall, and the toughest competition early in the day was to get in line to volunteer for corner duty rather than jump on the bike.

Driving rain and gale-force winds persisted for the duration of the 59 kilometre journey which took the field from Woodstock through Llanelly, up the middle road and then south to the Bendigo St. Arnaud Road before heading back to Woodstock via Tarnagulla and Newbridge. The field was split into five groups with two scratch riders Justin Mollison and Travis Storer conceding two minutes to a bunch of seven and another seven minutes to the next group. The next three riders had another eleven minutes in hand chasing the lone limit rider on twenty-six minutes, but were always going to have a difficult day, and things got worse when one of the group punctured.

Withdrawals due to the conditions and punctures also reduced the chasing groups. The scratch riders kept their heads down and rounded up second scratch at the turn onto the Bendigo St. Arnaud Road. Third scratch were overhauled just before Newbridge. Wendy Bennett was the lone cyclist out in front by this stage and held a four minute advantage at Woodstock, but this was never going to be a big enough lead in the atrocious conditions.

In the run to the line the two scratch riders steadily shed the others with only three of the bunch together at the finish. Justin Mollison took out the sprint from Travis Storer to win and record fastest time. Terry Schintler (2 min) hung on for third, followed by Ricky Lovell 4th (9 min), Chris Draper 5th (2 min) and Dale Lowe 6th (2 min). Wendy Bennett continued her great solo ride to the finish to register first unplaced female.

The Waddington Handicap lived up to its reputation of being “Hilly & tortuous”, with 43 riders competing over the backhills of Castlemaine, across to Maldon, then a loop back to Castlemaine.
Limit riders R. Mitchell & D. Keith were given a 26 min. start on the Scratch bunch, with six other groups spaced in between.

The Scratch group of J. Mollison, J.Macague, N. Shipp, & T. Storer, had picked up the 1.5 min. group just after the 2km. mark, and continued their roll to gather the next two groups shortly after. Meanwhile at the front of the Race the Limit duo were caught at the 36km. mark by a trio of P. Robertson, B. Tonkin and B. Leahy, who had ridden away from the fifteen minute bunch, and continued their surge towards the finish. However about 2km. from the line, the now large group of about twenty-five riders, led by the Scratch team surged through, and on the last hill Scratch sprinted and left the remainder in its wake.

Travis Storer was first in a time of 1hr 17 min., an average speed of 41.3kph., followed by, J. Mollison, J. Macague, N. Shipp, G. Bennett, D. Lowe, S. Thompson, A. Lindsay, B. Jane, and 10th. M. Rankin. 1st. unplaced female P. Robertson.

Next week’s Race: 59km. Club Handicap at Woodstock.Duty: G. Lockwood, C. Louchard, J. Macague, R. McIntosh, D. McKellar.

Cold wintery conditions confronted the 51 riders who took part in the “Alan Sanford” 47 km graded scratch race on Saturday. The race took riders from the start at Woodstock around the Powers road circuit to Newbridge, then back past the clubrooms to the Maryborough road turn around and back to the start finish line.

Attacks were on right from the start and riders had to deal with a brisk cross wind for most of the circuit, making it difficult for riders to hang on as they jockeyed for position. The toll began to tell early in most grades with a number of riders dropped on the run in to Newbridge.

A grade was won by the in form Andrew Pascoe, in a time of 1:12:31. Shane Thomson was 2nd and Carl Harris finished in 3rd place. James Thompson was 1st in B grade in a time of 1:18:41, Craig Banfield 2nd and David Hare 3rd. C grade saw Ken Lacey first over the line in a time of 1:25:42, 2nd was Fran Medina and 3rd Pat Pontell. Ever green Jack Trickey was 1st in D grade in 1: 30:11, Steve Bright was 2nd and Wendy Bennett finished in 3rd place.

Next week’s race is the 53 km “Kel Waddington” handicap at Castlemaine starting at 2.00 pm. Officials for the day are R King, J Kirkham, B Leahy, G Leech and A Lennon.

Maryborough hosted the veterans cycling this week with a good field of 45 riders contesting the 55 km “Paul Volk” Handicap. A light head wind faced the riders who set off from the start at Dundas road to Dunolly, where they were turned left and headed over Mt Hooghly, then left again through Timor West and back to the start.

Scratch riders were in trouble not long after starting when they took the wrong turn just after Timor. This cost them about a minute and the chance of finishing on the podium. The 3 ½ minute group, with Mick Anderson and Robert Gibson featuring, put in a strong performance and had caught the 5 ½ minute bunch in the hills at about the half way point. This group combined well together catching the 8 minute group at Timor West and the 11 minute group about 4 km from Timor and the 15 minute group at Timor. Limit riders were picked up shortly after on the run home. The 1 ½ minute group chased hard but without scratch to help just missed out on catching the lead riders.

Meanwhile in the lead bunch the pace started to surge as the pelaton now containing about 25 riders shook its self out as riders positioned themselves for the uphill sprint to the line. Paul Dynon (3 ½ min) in a powerful sprint to the line was first in a time of 1:17:00 for an average speed of xxxxxx. 2nd was Daryl Stewart (5 ½ min), 3rd James Thompson (5 ½ min) 4th Sheridan Hall (3 ½ min), 5th Richard Verkulyn (8 min), 6th Robert Gibson (3 ½ min), 7th David Hare (8 min), 8th Mick Anderson (3 ½ min), 9 Leigh Anne Dynon (5 ½ min), and in 10th place was Steve Auld.

Steve Fulford from scratch was the fastest rider of the day finishing the course in a time of 1:16:40. First unplaced lady was Aileen O’Brien.

Next week’s race is the “Alan Sanford” 47 km graded scratch race starting at Woodstock at 2:00 pm. Officals for the day are N Hinton, D Jackson, D Jelbart, T Kapakoulakis, and M Kennedy.

53 Riders took part in the 61km Stewart's Accountants Hcp on Saturday 5th June, conditions were slightly blustery with half the field starting under heavy passing showers. The race started at Newbridge and took the riders over a undulating course through Lianally, Rheola, Mt Moligal, Tarnagulla and then back to Newbridge.

All groups did well to stay away from their chasers but at some expense as all groups lost at least one or two of their riders by the time the race passed through Tarnagulla.
SCR combined with the 2min group at Mt Moligal while the 18min, 24min & 28min groups came together along some of the rolling hills heading into Tarnagulla.

With the 18min, 24min & 28min groups now heading back to Newbridge the 7min & 10min groups were just coming together passing through Tarnagulla and now with SCR & 2min combined they were quickly making ground catching the 4min bunch at Tarnagulla. From this point on the race remained the same with only the bunch of SCR, 2min, 4min catching the bunch of 7min & 10min right on the line. However the combined group of 18min, 24min, 28min had already easily crossed the line.

Overall placings were 1st Shane Bartley (18min), 2nd Ken Lacy (24min), 3rd Jenny Farrow (18min), 4th Aileen O’Brien (18min), 5th Jack Trickey (24min), 6th Pam Robertson (18min), 7th Pat Pontell (28min), 8th Gary Saunders (28min), 9th Geoff Higginbottom (28min), 10th Sabrina Smythe.

First unplaced female rider went to Wendy Bennett and fastest time went to Justin Mollison with a time of 1hr 22m 42sec & an average speed of 40.4 km/h.

There is no racing next weekend due to the Queen’s birthday weekend. The next race will be the Paul Volk Electrical 55km Handicap at 2.00pm Maryborough on the 12th June.
Duty: S Hall, K Hamilton, A Hayhow, D Heath, G Higginbottom