Col Maciver on last Saturdays Long Swamp graded handicap…

Nice day with a feel of spring in the air. A reasonable turn-out – organised into two races, an A-grade Race and a combined B and C Grade race.

The A Grade bunch stayed pretty well together for the whole race with only Lachie Mc Phee dropping off on the first time up Imbota Hill and Pat McMillan towards the end of the first lap, both did not finish the course. The race was decided last time up the hill to the finish with John Scott-Hamilton proving too strong for everyone to take out the race from Harrison Munday (an excellent ride, beating Dad for the first time?) closely followed by Uncle Roger. Other placings were 4^th Sam Jenner, 5^th Andrew Kirk, 6^th Dave Munday, 7^th Phil Thomas and 8^th Rob Tindale all following one another in fairly close order.

The B & C bunch broke up a bit more, mainly on the return leg of the first lap with the race being decided on the hills of the return leg to the finish. First was Dene Bourke well clear of a fast finishing Freya Weston followed a few seconds later by a cruising Dave Jenner. 5^th was hard driving Jackie Weston, 6^th was a fast improving Jack Parker, 7^th was battling John Henshall and Ray Phillips and Jo Waugh fought out a close battle for 8^th & 9^th. Leo Lejambre had an off-day and went home early after one lap.