Biking Mad Summer Series, Event 5 Report

Camelot Belgie Course 22/2/22

The cycling weather gods were once again kind to us and we enjoyed near perfect conditions for the 5th event of the Biking Mad Summer Series out on the Camelot Belgie Course Tuesday evening.

The balmy 20 degree temperature and light northerly breeze set things up nicely for tight competitive racing in all grades.

Social Circuit

1.  Jo Warren

2.  Jasmin Roylance

3.  Christine Stephenson

The social circuit trio once again had to complete 5 laps of the 2.3 km course, with the stay together, no drop policy in place for the first 4 laps and a final 5th competitive ‘hot lap’ to finish off.

It’s been great to see the progress the social circuit riders have made over the summer with the pace now being very solid through out the ride. Well done to Jo, who proved to be the strongest on the night to take out the win after a hard fought sprint finish.

D Grade

1.  Joshua Harris

2.  John Pratt

3.  David Cunningham

4.  Dianna Borman

5.  David Campbell

6.  Ross Jackson

7.  Clive Brugh

D Grade race report thanks to John Pratt

Another great night for racing. D grade were lined up, some were ready, some were steady and 3 took off at go . By the time we got to the first corner we were all strung out.it took nearly a lap before we all got together again.One or too had ago at getting away but they were always brought back .the bunch stayed together until the last lap where two managed to sneak away ,and the sprint was won by the younger of the two. all in all a great nights racing.

C Grade

1.  Johnny Holton

2.  Phill Cocker

3.  Dave Chandler

4.  Andy Ross

5.  Ricky Field

6.  John Hardie-Boys

7.  Lee Pownall

8.  Tony Lavaggi

Race report thanks to Tony Levaggi

A return to tight racing in C grade tonight. The moderate northerly made it difficult to stay away from the bunch after getting a gap. But that didn't stop plenty of surging attacks, with Brent, Lee, Ricky, Andy, me and Phil all having a few goes. Enough attacks that just about every tactic and location on the course was tried. The three favourite attack spots were heading into the gravel, heading out of the gravel out onto Greendale Drive and the two little rollers on Greendale. Brent, Lee and Andy probably tried attacks in all those spots at some point, but the northerly on King Arthur brought it all together every time. All that surging and regrouping probably slowed us down, because for the first time on this course B grade lapped us with the surprise arrival of Jon Cox off the front after about halfway, followed soon after by the rest of B. From there, it was inevitable that the race would end in a sprint finish. Lee threw a new trick into the mix on the last lap by sandbagging through the gravel and attempting to get the break, I had one last dig on the little hills, but the sprint decided it. And lo, Johnny Holton took it on the wheels (and frame) of steel, showing a different tactic might pay off - not making doomed attacks but instead saving your legs for when it mattered. Also showing that these carbon bikes and fancy STI shifters are overrated. Chapeau.

A/B Grade

1.  Dwight Garton

2.  Gary Clareburt

3.  Richard Graham

4.  Jon Cox

5.  Jonathan Neal

6.  Keri Graham

     Euan Mason  DNF (puncture)

     Katie Richards  Marshalling Duties  (4 race points)

Rather than the normal cut and thrust of multiple attack and chases that have characterised the previous B grade races this summer, the majority of this weeks race saw everyone rotating and taking a turn up front.

This resulted in an average speed of 35.5 km/hour over the 34 km course, the quickest B Grade has raced on this course, including the first shorter 10 lapper.

This increase in pace saw B Grade catch and pass C Grade for the first time, just after the halfway mark.

 C grade was caught just as the bunch also reeled in Jon Cox, who was the only bolter of the evening, getting up the road for a couple of laps in a brave solo effort after out climbing the bunch on the Greendale Drive rollers.

The extra pace really made its presence felt on the gravel section, with a number of the guys testing the outer limits of their bike control in sometimes spectacular fashion on the shifty undulating surface.

The top scoring ‘loose cannon moment’ of the evening must go to Richard Graham, who on one lap hit the first rise after the carpet so hard, one of his shoes unclipped, resulting in some strong language from Richard and the riders around him as he careered across the track narrowly avoiding taking out himself and the riders in his wake.

Euan Mason continued his run of mechanical bad luck with an early puncture, but he came ‘off the bench’ with his bike sorted and fresh legs with about 4 laps to go and injected more pace into the final stages of the race. Euan looks to be in good nick and if he can get some reliability into his bike, should prove to be a handful in the final races of the series.

The bell lap saw the bunch tightly packed until just before the gravel section when Keri Graham hit the after burners. Keri comes from a mountain biking background and obviously fancies his chances to get away from the roadies on the lumpy bits.

This tactic had proved successful for him the previous week when he got away on the same section and held on for the win. However this week the bunch was on to him and by the start of the rollers he’d been caught.

So coming into the King Arthurs Drive for the final time it was anyones race, with all riders together and watching and waiting for someone to make a move.

With about 300 metres to go it was Dwight Garton who decided to roll the dice early and go for it. Dwight’s got an explosive sprint, particularly over the first 30 metres and he got a winning break on the rest of the field that they couldnt reel in. 

So a well deserved win for Dwight that consolidates his lead on the B grade points table and  also puts him in a very strong position in the overall Summer Series.

The rest of the field fanned out across the road and in a very tight finish Gary Clareburt took out second from a fast finishing Richard Graham third.

A special thanks to those that make the event happen. To Richard Graham, Gary Clareburt & Jonathan Neil for course set up. To Dianna Borman for once again taking care of registration. To John Rowlinson, Bruce Edgar, Ian Fraser & Katie Richards for keeping us safe and doing marshalling duties. Shane Griggs for lap keeping and finally a big thanks to Pete Gibbs who stepped up at short notice and did a great job race managing the event.

See you all next week for our final evening on the Camelot Course this summer.

Ps, a gentle reminder to those that haven’t yet paid their Club Membership fee. You can pay on line from the club website using the following link.

https://www.kapiticyclingclub.co.nz/Join-Us/Join-Us

Article added: Thursday 24 February 2022