Long Swamp Handicap 9 October 2010

Another win for Brent Weston, as described by Wilf

The first race of the daylight saving season saw 23 riders turn up at everyone’s favourite venue – LSR. Kirky spoke for all when he said that the four o’clock start mitigated against the sometimes brutal effects of the sunny Armidale spring weather.

David Rubie was the only major absence, his win in last week’s TT has seen him changing his competitive endeavours to solo events only (perhaps to match his private activities?) He also couldn’t have carried his Hasselblad and other photographic equipment on a bike and he spent the afternoon crouching in bushes and spread across the roadway happily snapping away (see results on club website). Look forward to his photojournalism on our intrepid Grafton-Inverell riders (good luck, boys!)

The “Go” group of four riders contained novice racer Leo making his maiden journey on the fabled LSR as well as Mark, Craig and Jacky, followed on 2 minutes by Dene, Bob M and Jo. Three minutes after that, a very large group including race favourite Nick (nicely warmed up after his early morning solo training ride and carrying his secret weapon {a new gym membership} in his pocket) left the starting line. Cody and Sammy brought a bit of youth to this group and Phil Hess returned to Armidale racing after a long absence. Lachie was meant to be in this group but decided to set off on a solo effort 20 seconds later. His group didn’t wait for him and had put in another minute on him by the first turn. A gun group of young aces Chris J., Brent and (youngish) John left on 7 minutes, joined by Phil T., who equaled the combined age of the other three riders in his group. Three minutes later, the final group of Rob, Mick H. (not Mick S – he’s the one with the fancy jacket), Andrew K. and Dave M. was on its way. Kirky had spend two of those minutes outlining his concern that with this sort of handicap they might as well not start . . . .

The first half of the race saw the backmarker groups steadily gaining and some serious infighting amongst the front riders. Mark broke away at the 7.5 km turn and reached the 15 km turn well in front. He was followed by the wily combination of Dene and Bob M, slightly ahead of Jacky working hard on her own to stay in contact. The large 5 minute group was next to arrive at the half-way mark, Leo and Jo having managed to join on. Lachie had been swallowed up by the 7 minute group and looked comfortable, this was probable all part of a cunning master plan. The final group rounded the 15 km turn having made up more than half the time gap on the group in front – another triumph of the handicapper was in sight!

The second half of the race saw some major re-arrangement of the groups as the challenging course, weather conditions and the relentless pace took toll of individual fitness and determination. By the final turn, Bob M. and Dene had caught up with Mark and were also joined by Nick and Bob W. 30 seconds later a group of nine riders led by Lachie turned home to chase them down: Chris, Brent and John still looked fresh, Sammy, Dave J., Phil H. and PC were struggling and Phil T. just looked like Phil T. The final group made the turn nearly 2 minutes back, still in the hunt but it would take a big effort from the boys – were they up to it? How much were they prepared to hurt for the win?

Once Lachie’s group had caught the frontmarkers, the young guns put down the hammer and pulled away from all pursuers. Chris ambitiously started a 1 km sprint up the final climb and was outsprinted to the line by Brent and John, separated by half a wheel. A still cool-looking Bob W crossed in fourth (jazzy knee sock in place), just ahead of Nick (who didn’t stop but continued straight on to a weights session at the gym). The scratchies faded a bit on the last stretch, causing the handicapper to reconsider Kirky’s pre-race comments not as unfounded ‘winging’ but as a well-considered, professional assessment of each group’s relative strength and a fair indication of realistic time-gaps. (Sorry, Kirky – one minute would have made all the difference!) The official Club Handicap(per), Mark B. is expected to be called before club president and VP to account for his persistent refusal to properly handicap Kirky.

Leo enjoyed his race, LSR lived up to its reputation and a good time was had by all spectators.