Bob Murison tore the legs off a shortened 30km Long Swamp handicap on Saturday to take a decisive victory over Phil “Danglers” Bookalil and a rapidly improving John Henshall.
Phil Bookalil and his distinctive saddle bag set a cracking pace from the off, dragging the rest of the go bunch (sorry, incomplete, but I spotted John Henshall, Geoff “Dave” Allen and others) through the first turn on Long Swamp with a still impressive lead over the second group who had started 5 minutes back.
Bobs group (Dave Boundy, Dave Rubie, Dewald “Hungries” Burger) were somewhat shocked by Bobs eagerness right from the start – there was no room to warm up as the bike computers registered speeds with a 6 as the first digit on the first swooping left hander. There was no room for stragglers. At the first turn with plenty of time to make up to Danglers, the welcome PSSSSSSHHHHHHhhhhhhht sound of a flat tyre had at least one rider (ahem, me) silently thanking the cycling gods although sadly it was Dave Boundy the victim of the puncture fairies. Riders started dropping as Bob continued his relentless drive towards Phil. Bobs furious pace didn’t allow any of the following groups to make any real inroads into his lead – the scratch group left foundering and the Gilligans Island crew (minus Captain Creagan) unable to make a dent into Bobs charge.
Bob eventually caught Phil and John (shedding the rest of his group in the process), beating Phil and John Henshall to the line and registering a decisive victory in distinctive “Meat Hammer” style – leaving no set of legs unpunished.
Terrific first up ride by Dave Rugendyke and Dewald who combined to keep the pace up. Bad luck to Dave Boundy who was riding strongly before the flat.