Mayor successful amid shortcut surprise

CROWDS at Marty Busch Reserve were entertained on Sunday morning as City of Ballarat mayor, Cr Ben Taylor and Cr Des Hudson put on a BMX show.

Kicking off Ballarat Sebastopol Rush’s Rebellion Race Meet, the pair zoomed around the club track at 10.30am to see who was council’s most capable BMX racer, with Cr Taylor crowned winner.

But taking his helmet off after the race, he had to “call it as it is,” with Cr Hudson bypassing the final straight to cross the line first.

“That was just plain cheating,” Cr Taylor laughed. “I think he realised the heart was pumping a bit too fast, he needed the defib a bit too early, so he cut the corner.

“I was nervous at the top, the heart was pumping, but once I got around that first corner, I thought I was right after that. It was good fun.”

Cr Hudson said he was fastest off the straight and first onto the main jump before the situation changed.

“Clearly Ben’s training that he had with the professional trainer through the week gave him some corner lines and technique of being low on the bike, then pumping,” Cr Hudson said.

“By the time the fourth straight was there I had to think on my feet. He was out in front and clearly going to win, so I had to improvise and take a short cut through the grass.

“I think in the end I beat him by about 15 lengths. Might have been slightly outside the rules, but for ingenuity and getting the job done, I think I was there.”

Rush club member, Shallan Pompe was impressed to see the councillors engaging with her sport.

“Supporting the club, coming out and having fun is what makes you a leader, and it’s good to see them having a go,” she said.