Canny claims second Charlie Braszell

EUREKA Cycling Club staged the 2021 edition of the Charlie Braszell Hcp on Sunday, 27 June.

The Braszell family donated trophies which celebrates Charlie who was synonymous with Victorian cycling.

Commencing his cycling passion in the 1940s, he raced with the Ballarat Cycling Club, Wendouree Professional Cycling Club, Ballarat Professional Cycling Club, Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club, Ballarat Veterans Cycling Club, Geelong Veterans Cycling Club and Colac Veterans Cycling Club, in a racing career which spanned across five decades.

He made significant contributions to the management of many local clubs – which was recognised with a Life Membership at Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club during the 1980s.

The Charlie Braszell Handicap is one of the most prestigious races on the Eureka Cycling calendar and the last three editions have been contested on the Mount Misery circuit, with a 1.8 kilometre long hill top finish.

Scratch were not to be denied in this year’s race – with Shane Nankervis, Tim Canny and Dayne Pearce in devastating form. The trio rode through the entire field and had the race lead with a third of the race remaining.

Canny and Nankervis broke away from a dozen other riders with 10 kilometres remaining – from there it was just a matter of which man had the best tactics.

The final climb was raced in sunshine and a light headwind. Nankervis put Canny under pressure on the lower ramps of the climb, however the former Eureka Club Champion responded and attacked on the steepest section of the climb.

Canny taking the win by a few bike lengths and claiming his second victory in the Charlie Braszell Handicap, having previously won in 2017.

Charlie Braszell Hcp, 48km results – 1st – Tim Canny (scratch), 2nd – Shane Nankervis (scratch), 3rd – Tony Mirabella (2 min), 4th – Tim Sinclair (6 min), 5th – Dayne Pearce (scratch), 6th – Stuart Brien (2 min), 7th – Glen Ford (10 min), 8th – Jason Birch (2 min), 9th – Greg Nunn (10 min), 10th – Darryl Brown (10 min). Fastest time – Tim Canny in 1h 13m, ave. 39.1kph.

 

– BY DEAN WELLS