Bootenal to Wind Farm Return

Battle of strength

Despite the ever present wind, 26 riders lined up to start the Bootenal to Walkaway Individual Road Race.  Ros Johnson was a little uncertain as to how she would fare and convinced the starter to set her off early.  Johnson was followed by Duane and Mitchell Crabb with junior rider Mitchell easing into the slip stream and out of the wind.   Jonathan Tamm brought along his tandem and he and his daughter set off across the flats to Walkaway.

The large B Grade contingent were given just 5 minutes start on A Grade but with experienced cyclists Peter Burchell and John Andrews in this group, strength was given to Frank O’Donovan, Kylee Crabb, Reggie Richardson, Matt Matiera and Barb Glenister.

Matiera struggled to find a place in the pack that kept him out of the wind and lost contact on the way to Walkaway.   Burchell and Andrews worked tirelessly to keep their group together whilst also providing advice and guidance for the newer riders within the pack.

The large A Grade group of Paul Dodson, Peter Johnson, Mike Paxman, Dave Rakuscek, Julie Firth, Johny Barber, Paul Baldock, Jamie Rowe, Jarrod Bell, Tim Glenister, Simon Mulligan, Paul Spackman and Eddie Muller were quick off the start line and immediately set a blistering pace.  Paul Hearne remained on the line, asking the starter for an extra minute so that he could challenge himself a little more and despite the pace of the bunch in front, Hearne had caught them as the group sped towards the climb to the Wind Farm.

B Grade rider Ros Johnson was first to start the climb and used her fitness to power up the hill.  Mitchell and Duane Crabb were next onto the climb with Mitchell seen pulling ahead of dad Duane towards the top of the hill. 

The early speed of A Grade became too difficult for Tim Glenister and Eddie Muller with both suffering and losing contact with the pack between Walkaway and the base of the hill. With A Grade catching the main B Grade group as the climb started, Hearne led the charge and injected speed, causing many to separate and lose touch. Eight riders remained from the original A Grade group and it took the full length of the ride to the Wind Farm visitor centre for this group to capture the Crabb duo and Ros Johnson.  The tandem bike was spinning up the hill but unfortunately suffered a puncture which saw the two riders having to abandon the race.  Barb Glenister dropped her chain early on the climb but despite the set back, she was quick to recover and resume her ride.  She wasn't the only one to suffer this fate, with Jamie Rowe also losing his chain and needing a quick fix - Rowe benefited from his group slowing to enable him to rejoin - a really lovely display of sportsmanship.

At the turn around point Hearne, Rowe, Baldock, Bell, Rakuscek, Dodson, Mulligan and Paxman were working hard to maintain contact with each other and Ros Johnson tried to jump onto the back of this group but didn’t quite have the speed.

The descent was fast and exciting and the more confident riders were quick to benefit. By the time the riders had the finish line in sight they were spread across the course.  Paul Dodson, Paul Hearne and Jamie Rowe had powered away from their group and from a distance they resembled Cancellara, McEwan and Schleck in stature with similar tactics being applied by all three. 

The sprint to the line saw Hearne taking line honours from Rowe and Dodson in a fast paced event of 34.2km/hr.  An ever improving Jarrod Bell took fourth place with Paxman and Baldock crossing just under a minute later to round out the top six places for A Grade.

Ros Johnson won the B Grade event, a minute and a half ahead of Frank O'Donovan who outsprinted Kylee Crabb, Peter Burchell, John Andrews and Reggie Richardson in a close finish.  

A full list of results is posted below.

Special thanks to Jennie Haste for marshal and timekeeping and to Terry Wellman for marshalling and acting as the turn around point.

Our next event is the Mingenew 90km Individual Road Race on Sunday 22 May 2011.  Further details will follow.