Eureka race honours Rocks of the club

TWENTY-five riders contested the annual Blue Wheel Trophy race on Sunday, 5 November.

Each year the race is named to honour volunteers who have made Eureka Cycling Club the club it is today.

In 2023 the race was named The Rock, in recognition of the enormous contribution that Mal and Lyn Rock have made to the club since it was formed in 2009.

Eureka’s culture is that much stronger for their enduring dedication to the club.

When it came to the road, conditions were warm and sunny for the race.

A light south-east breeze helped the groups maintain their time gaps on the outward section to Black Bottom Road.

Christian Ashby, Josh Harvey and Tom Ferguson took the race lead along Ercildoune Road having reeled in the limit riders.

The trio were all but assured the victory when a mob of sheep brought the backmarkers to a brief stop with 14 kilometres remaining.

The leading trio were still together when they made the turn onto Harrison’s Road and commenced the mile long climb to the chequered flag.

Knowing the race was theirs, they finally started to race each other, with Harvey prevailing at the top.

The Rock handicap (Mount Misery with Hill Top finish) 47.5mm results: 1st – Josh Harvey (14 min), 2nd – Tom Ferguson (14 min), 3rd – Christian Ashby (14 min), 4th – Peter Farren (22 min), 5th – Andrew Rushton (8 min), 6th – Greg Ley (8 min), 7th – Lindsay Burgoyne (8 min), 8th – Dean Wells (8 min), 9th – Andrew Wilson (8 min), 10th – Steve Linane (14 min).

Ride of the day – Christian Ashby (14 min), Fastest Time – Richard Younger (scratch) in 1h 12m, ave. 39.5kph.

– DEAN WELLS