Buckley takes out round three of summer cycling series

Round three of the Brew Bar Coffee Lounge Series was conducted over 25km on an out and back course at Attamurra Road on February 18.

Sunny conditions with a south south east breeze, which would assist on the outward journey greeted a limit group of six, consisting of Spek Peake, Mike Bakker,

Chris Neave, Sandra Parsons, Molly Opperman and John Cranwell. This group had a gap of one minute over Ethan McKenny, Xavier Farmilo and Matthew Opperman who in turn were given a lead of two minutes over Tim Koopman and Stephen Jones.

Three minutes later, Tina Opperman, the commissaire let the scratch group of Jamison Buckley, Nick Kidman and Scott Waters go to chase those ahead.

With a cross/tail wind to assist the riders, the pace was quite high which proved the undoing of first Molly, then Sandra and then Spek, leaving the other three to continue to the turn mark.

Chris, Mike and John turned to head home and see what damage had been done with the high pace. Spek, Sandra, Ethan and Xavier turned close together, but not as a group, while Matthew was assisting Molly to continue with her chase.

Tim and Stephen were holding the scratch group at bay, but scratch had taken a lot of the three minutes back.

Homeward bound and the riders found the speed had dropped quite a bit as the southerly breeze was not helping at all and Chris and John found themselves without Mike who had lost contact after the turn.

The strength of the scratch group showed out as they reeled in the riders with only Tim and Stephen able to hold the wheels of this group and they caught and passed Chris and John to hit the front of the race with six kilometres to go.

Riders had attempted to join the scratch group, but were unable to due to the fickle nature of the wind and were left to battle to the finish line in small groups or singularly.

At the finish line, Jamison used his track skills to out sprint Scott and Nick with Stephen and Tim filling the top five places, followed by John and Chris who had kept the others at bay.

Spek , Mike, Xavier and Sandra were next, followed by Ethan, Molly and Matthew, who had assisted his daughter home.

Thanks have to go to the commissaire Tina, turn marshal Liam Fielding, follow car of Dave Delaland and supporters for helping at the race.

Many of the riders and officials adjourned to the Brew Bar, our sponsors, for refreshments after the race.

Race four in the series is set down for the circuit at Kongorong on February 25.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE MCKENNY