Mullewa to Bootenal 140km Individual Road Race

A simply spiffing turn out, fifteen riders on the start line all facing the wrong way.  We've yet to see if any of them are photogenic but at least the sun was in their happy faces.  Amongst them we were honoured by the presence of Bradley Wiggens who must have been tired as he finished last out of those that went across the line. 

The Pelican took off from the start and stayed flying along in front for the whole race, Damon Angelatos, Richard Quinlan, Paul Hearn and Jarrod Bell.  The rest of the riders, with pacemakers, attempted most of the race companion less by the half way mark. 

Max Nawrojee was the first with a puncture.  His back up vehicle was caught up taking in the beautiful scenery but when he finally got there Max was prepared and casually swapped his wheel.

The marshals, thin on the ground had to multi task, which meant the first feed station was not well positioned and most riders bypassed what looked like a 'swat meet' stall on the back of a ute, in order to retain their speed.  The guilty marshal then caught up with the riders individually and threw stuff at them out of the window.  Reg Salmon made some colourful remarks and these will be taken as constructive criticism so that improvements can be made to the feed stations :-)

Completing the course behind the pelican were Peter Johnson, Andrew Outhwaite with a hip swing like a cat walk model, I know I watched, Gavin Keyser, Max Nowrojee, Reg Salmon, who thought I'd eaten his pic nic that he couldn't stop for, Paul Dodson, Julie Firth, the only 'lady' on a bike that day, hoorah, and Bradley Wiggens alias Andrew Blake.

The DNF riders are as follows: Mark Adam, Gerald Laurent and Simon 'I nearly finished' Teakle.  I don't think any of them really had any excuse to stop except for wanting to be able to walk the next day.  Great effort guys.

The Pelican riders left Paul Hearne changing a tube.  It took him twenty five minutes to repair....I think, I'm not sure, the race was so spread out, hmmm... anyway, the mans a machine and went over the finish line only a minute behind the leaders. 

 

The quickest time goes to Damon Angelatos, second place Richard Quinlan and third place Jarrod Bell (who trains at work on a boat).  If you would like to beat these blokes you will need to ride in excess of three hundred fast kms a week. Paul would probably recommend doubling that and Jarrod doesn't know how many laps of the boat that is, but it's a lot.

Photographer, marshal and food stop two, thank you Rhonda Bradley.  Thank you Darren Screaigh, the power behind the signs.  Paul Alsop, sweeper ta.  And me swat meet, event coordinator and scribe, Jennie Haste.