Honours shared on Mount Misery

EUREKA Cycling Club returned to the shores of Lake Learmonth for the first handicap of the season – a forty-five-kilometre race around the Mount Misery circuit.

In cool and overcast conditions riders registered and pinned on their numbers while out on course the faint south easterly breeze promised that this would be a fast race.

James Knipe and Geoff Edwards from the 16-minute group took the race lead before the halfway mark.

The scratch group powered through the first half of the race and flew past the second scratch riders like they were standing still.

Knipe and Edwards still had a healthy lead with 10 kilometres remaining.

Behind them a peloton of 10 riders had formed when the seven-minute group caught the 12-minute group.

The scratch group soon caught the peloton and now 15 riders were chasing the two leaders.

Attacks on the Weatherboard climb saw the chase stall and give the leaders the extra metres they needed.

Knipe and Edwards managed their efforts to the line and took the chequered flag hand-in-hand – surviving by some 40 seconds.

Organisers made sure to the volunteers who made the day possible including Lois Goldfinch at the club rooms, road marshals Peter Canny, Pat Garner, Dan Crook and Tim Canny, and race officials Bill Goldfinch and Graeme Parker.

Next Sunday is the Eureka Cycling Club Time Trial Championship to be staged on the Windmill circuit.

The fast riders will seek champion time trialler status, while everyone is in with a chance at claiming the Commodores Cup.

Mount Misery handicap results (45 Km) – 1st – Geoff Edwards 16 min and James Knipe 16 min, 3rd – Shane Clarke scratch, 4th – Michael Pierce scratch, 5th – Jamie Huggett scratch.

1st female – Julie Connellan 23 min.

Ride of the Day – Julie Connellan.

Fastest Time – Shane Clarke in 1h 7m 50s, ave. 39.5kph.

– BY DEAN WELLS