Northern Vets Cycling Club

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The Rik Sloane Cycles Blackwood Creek 70 is a new handicap feature race for the NHP Northern Vets and with over 60 starters it is destined to become an annual event. The course over Blackwood Creek proved to be one of the toughest races of the year.

Some fantastic handicapping saw the 2 breakaway C grade riders hold on for the win by a bike length from the fast approaching B grade breakaway bunch with the back-markers only 50m off the line as well.

It was Vince Rowbottom who took out the race from Rob Nimmo, both riders working well to hold their lead in the final km. In 3rd place was Craig Woodfall with Pete Oliver and Adam Sanders in 4th and 5th places respectively. Jason Andersch put in another strong ride to take fastest time.

The Vets tackled an undulating course and solid winds in a 50km Graded Handicap race at Bishopsbourne. The 11 back markers started 22 minutes behind the front and it wasn’t long before they came across riders who had come off their bunches in the hills and wind.

Jas Andersch wearing no.1, traditionally awarded to the club’s strongest rider, rode a very smart race, working with his bunch until most could stay with him no longer, and managing to ride through the field of 50 riders.

The handicapper did a great job as the remaining backies caught the race leaders from E Grade in the final 300m of the course. Jas Andersch won from scratch, in 2nd place was James Down from E Grade, 3rd Darren Cook from scratch, 4th Peter Fraser and 5th Chris Moore both from E Grade .

Next week is the Rik Sloane Cycles Blackwood Creek 70km Feature Race and Xmas function

The NHP Northern Vets held a Graded Points Score over a testing course at Whitemore. With over 50 riders starting, the racing was very competitive in all grades highlighted by some very close sprints.

It was great to see Tim Elmer back racing at the vets and his presence was evident prior to the start with his fellow A-grade riders preparing for a serious hit-out. As it turned out, the sprints were equally shared with a different rider winning each sprint and the final place for 1st only separated by a count-back. It was Dane Leedham who took the honours and 1st place over Elmer with the best place in the final sprint, while the consistent Darren Cook claimed third.

Andrew Flanagan riding in B-grade proved he was ready to move back to A-grade after another very strong performance repeating his win from last week. Flanagan attacked on the last lap and stayed away from a chasing bunch to claim his overall win. Simon Donovan finished in 2nd and was actually on equal points with Flanagan before the last sprint, with Vince Rowbottom claiming 3rd. C-grade saw another win from Michael Bailey who proved he is a great sprinter, winning 3 of the 4 sprints and surely must have the handicapper studying his form. Brett Fulton was the other fast rider in the bunch claiming a close 2nd with Steve Tristram coming in 3rd.

Another new-comer, Glenn Creely controlled proceedings in D-grade, winning his first race and showed he will be a rider to watch as he climbs through the grades. The sprint wins were shared across the grade, so final results came down to those who grabbed minor places through the race. Heath Edwards was the next best finisher claiming 2nd with Peter Jones cruising home for 3rd. Joe Riley nearly had a clean-sweep in E-grade and was obviously the in-form rider finishing with an easy win. Scott Watson and Bob Mason filled the minor places. It was the ladies in F-grade who kept the pace high and made Ward Totham fight hard for his win. Jenny Bailey completed the Bailey-family day out, grabbing 2nd with Sherry Gibson a close 3rd.

The NHP Northern Vets encountered sweltering conditions for their Handicap race at Bishopsbourne. The heat made the 3 laps of Armstrong’s lane challenging for all including the great volunteers at the club.

B Grade had the biggest bunch on the day and they worked well averaging close to 40kmh for the three laps. Once they rounded up C grade the pace lifted again and they were safe in holding their 1km lead on the smaller scratch bunch. The pace settled 5km out as the bunch contemplated the sprint. However Andrew Flanagan had different ideas and showed the bunch how to finish off the race with a well timed attack up the last rise to take out the win. Patrick Cruse took out the bunch sprint for 2nd place from Jon Lewarn in 3rd.

Congratulations to new members Michael Eastwood (E) and Sherry Gibson (F) who won their grades.Other grade winners on the day were Mathew Sydes (A) Phil Bishop (C) and Peter Dadson (D).

The NHP Northern Vets were back racing at Carrick for their first race of 2012 with a great field of over 50 starters kicking off the season in perfect racing conditions. There were many who looked like they had been putting in plenty of kilometres over the break and obviously taking it easy on the Xmas pudding.

A-grade had a serious hit-out with Peter Oliver constantly attacking and reminding the bunch that they were there to race. Adam Sanders tried for a break as the race turned back on to the home stretch but was caught not too far from the finish. It was Nick Preece who jumped away inside the last kilometre while the rest looked at each other and managed to hold them off to take the win. Mick Dalton, always a fast finisher, grabbed second with Jonathon Bishop over for third.

B-grade started with one of their biggest groups for a long time and were all soon tested by a few, keen to blow out the cobwebs. Andrew Flanagan probably got the prize for most aggressive and spent plenty of time at the front-end of the bunch. The big improver turned out to be Mike McOwan who sprinted home for his first win in B-grade after only three starts in that grade. Andy Wells also rode strongly all race, finished well to take second with Andrew Flanagan taking a well-earned third.

The first race turned out to be a great place to start when new club member, Michael Bailey showed he is the man to watch in C-grade and sprinted strongly to easily win his grade. Dale Hainsworth was also back and looking fit powering in for second with Phil Bishop rolling in for third.

D-grade were worked over by 'lady-power' with Helen Woodfall keeping all under pressure for the entire race but unfortunately was unable to finish it off with a place on the podium. It was the elder statesman, Gary Woodfall who glided over the line to take first place, closely followed by Peter Dadson and Michelle Dabner.

In E-grade Joel Wallace also joined the winners list and looked pleased to win in front of another new-comer, Scott Donohue with Howard Smith grabbing third. F-grade had a few new members from G-grade who were keen to do well up against some tougher opposition but it was Ward Totham who was first home, with John Hillier second and a great ride from Leanne Szmekura to take out third.