Lee goes back-to-back as Eureka club champ

EUREKA Cycling staged its Ken Heres road race club championships on Sunday, 10 November at Weatherboard.

The Championship race decided who would earn the Club Champion title for 2019. Tim Canny animated the race from the start line while Craig Lee was out to defend his 2018 title and never strayed too far from Canny’s wheel.

The field split halfway through the event after relentless attacking by Canny. Jason Hendry, Jason Shipcott and Stu Brien were some of the riders to make that selection with Canny and Lee.

A further split late in the race had whittled the lead group down to just four riders, however determined efforts by the two chasing groups, saw the field reunite with eight kilometres remaining.  Ten riders still had a chance to win the title.

Matt Bowman launched a trademark attack inside the last kilometre and split the pack apart. There was mayhem on the final climb, which left Canny and Lee to fight out a desperate finish. Lee took a half wheel victory and became the first Eureka rider to win back to back Club Champion titles.

In the Division 2 race Five riders broke clear early in. They put the race beyond doubt, then settled down for a sprint finish.  Matt Ayres proved too powerful for Peter Canny and Lindsay Burgoyne in the final dash to the line.

Darryl Brown rode clear in the Division 3 event halfway through the race. He maintained his advantage to the finish, to earn a champion title at his first club victory.

Results – Championship Race, 60km – 1st – Craig Lee, 2nd – Tim Canny, 3rd – Jason Hendry, 4th – Stu Brien, 5th – Jason Shipcott

Division 2, 50km – 1st – Matt Ayres, 2nd – Peter Canny, 3rd – Lindsay Burgoyne, 4th – Matt Angus, 5th – Craig Lightfoot

Division 3, 50km – 1st – Darryl Brown, 2nd – Neil Braszell, 3rd – Jakkii Dawson, 4th – Phil McLennan, 5th – Lauren Burnett