Criterium de Meru

Criterium Sunday 20^th Nov

A very windy day made for tough riding conditions.  A brave cluster of 10 riders fronted up ready to engage in battle.  The club was pleased to welcome Michael Pardon as a new rider visiting from Perth and to welcome back Theresa Pomery and Andre Eastough who clearly love riding crits.

There was a mass start for all riders who gave 100% over the 20 minute criterium.  Within a few laps Paul Dodson, Andre Eastough, Roger Swan, Mike Pardon and Peter Johnson lead a peleton lapping at better than 1 minute per lap.  The remaining riders stuck at their ride and maintained a good pace throughout.

The sprint finish saw Andre take line honours followed closely by Mike, Paul D and Peter J.  Roger managed to keep the new bike on the same lap as the front runners and went so hard in the last two laps that he missed the bell.  It must have been the wind noise off those fancy new wheels Rog!

Theresa won the women’s event and Jonty won the Junior’s event with strong ride in his first Criterium.  Well done Jonty.  This was also Rhonda Bradley’s first “crit” and although her domestique [Darryl Sheilds] was heckled by the peleton, Rhonda said she learnt more in 20 minutes of riding than she had in years on her own!  Great concentration Rhonda.  Tom Thuijs also had his first run at the Meru crit circuit and finished in the middle of the field.

Well done to all the first time criterium riders and a huge effort was put in by all riders in adverse conditions.  

Thanks to Bec for providing some wonderful prizes for the children’s and Juniors races.

Nukara to N.W.C. Highway & Return

On our way out to the Nukara Farm, Burch made the comment that the race may have been cancelled due to the heavy rain that morning.  It had been discussed that at previous meets the rain wasn’t a factor.  Having said that, we wondered how many riders would be competing. It soon became evident that some people were participating after we passed the old fella (aka Paul Dodson), Eddie Muller and Johnny Barber riding out.  “Well, there will be three anyway”.

On arriving there was a few more getting ready, so no doubt there would be a race.  By 9am we had 19 riders and absolutely beautiful weather (apart from the little friendlies looking for a home up your nose, in your eyes…..).

Welcome to  few new riders, Garry Potter, Sara Armitage and some 2^nd timers Rhonda Bradley and Gus Ruiz.

Burch and I sorted out the handicaps , created 4 groups separated by 5 min except for the scratchers who requested a smaller gap of 4 min?  The old man requested an earlier start group as there were hills and these don’t apparently agree with him (this wasn’t all he had to worry about as glass didn’t do his tyres much good, twice!).

The course went from Nukara farm gate, to NWCH and return, measuring 27km with 4 hills on the way out and guess what…4 hills on the way back.  Apologies, I shouldn’t keep bringing up the hills.

59min 58sec after the start John Barber and Eddie Muller were 1^st and 2^nd over the line followed by the powerhouse Firth and one of the new boys on the track Gus Ruiz with his new Giant (very nice if I can say so) with Simon Mulligan arriving in fifth position.

With adjusted times the order changed, with Simon Mulligan finishing in a fairly unassisted time of 48 min 19sec (good riding big fella).  Second and third to Jonny Barber and Eddie Muller with 49.58 and Julie Firth in 51.11 sec followed in fifth @ 51min 21sec Gus Ruiz (that will cost you a bit of handicapping next time Gus), beating some more fancied riders Reg Solomon and Mr Wild West…..Paul Matthews.

A couple of old timers in Tom (Gravel) Thuijs, John Andrews and Gary Porter (also on a very nice new Giant) held off the up and coming junior of the club Jonti Calder.  Jenny Haste had just under 90 sec on Barb (I never win anything) Glenister who got over the line in front of another new Giant (which developed brake issues metres away from the finish line????), of Andrew Toovey.  Peter Burchill was next after assuming a few teaching positions along the way and in front of Paul Dodson who had the misfortune of two flats and due to his experience changing tyres, on reflection, his time wasn’t too bad.  Patrick Bettridge came in just after a fast finishing Dodson.  A  little way back Sara Armitage rolled in front of Rhonda Bradley, also on a new Giant.  I think Rhonda was a lot happier on her roadie compared to the last meeting on her MTB.

The weather held out to be cool - warmish conditions minus a few flies and low to mild winds.  Standing at the finish line was great listening to the bikes come down the hill at a rate of knots, there is something to be said about the whirring of gears, chains and tyres on the bitumen.  A good turn out to be involved in this a great race - can’t wait to have a go next year.

Many thanks to Paul Baldock and Cameron Dawson for officiating and to Peter Burchell for event coordinating.

Results - Nukara to N.W.C Highway & Return