Max McKenzie Memorial Mount gambier

A filed of 45 riders turned out for the Max McKenzie, The Second race of the South west series.
Weather was outstanding with a light North Westerly Breeze and temperatures in the mid 20's.
The handicapper Scott Noonan divided the field into 8 bunches, limit at 30 mins, then 18 mins, 15.5, 12.5, 10, 7, 4mins then scratch.
At the start of the race on paper I thaught the 15.5 bunch looked the goods, with 6 Mount riders & 2 hamilton riders, all with plenty of experience and ability, chasing second limit also with a few riders more than able to help out with the common cause. At about the 1/2 way make and about 2km onto the "overland road", thes two bunches combined, then i thaught yep I am right, things are looking like it will be an outmarkers day.
This also was about 2 minutes before my own tank ran dry; Stuart Robinson Hamilton was working like a trojan, which in turn created a few casualties amongst the out markers me being one of them.
Less than a minute after dropping off, what i think is a very fast moving front bunch, i looked behind only to see some very conspicuous looking red outfits closing in, quite a bit faster, with red having a bold presence in the chasing bunch i then realised, the handicapper had done his job quite well, I started with a chance, and blow me scratch had as well, and there they were, as usual, the red titans outfits as bold as ever, quickly bridging the gap.

Scratch had ridden quite well stopping any of the other back markers combining without them being involved, Shultz, Gstrien, Tozer,Bellville, & Eichler reeled in the field gaining strength along the way.

The out markers were picked up not too far out so any outmarker with any wheel holding ability had a chance in a placing, But realy only an outside chance!
Results Brendan Schultz wearing number 1st &Fastest Xavier Gstrien a very close 2nd& rounding out the top 3 Gary Pollock hamilton. 4th Heath Riley, 5th Chris Eichler 6th, 7th from 2nd limit & well deserved went to Stuart robinson 8th John Anderson, 9th Glen Schouler 10th Matt Gstrien

First Female Irene Whennen
Handicapping fanststic, riders from 2nd limit to scratch in top ten placings.
A couple of special mentions go to 1. Stuart Robinson from Hamilton persistance paid, Xavier Gstrien, for mixing it on scratch, and a very close second, need a lot more younger riders coming through!
To the three female starters well done to all, wouldnt do any harm having 10 or 12 more at each race!

See you all at the next race...............................

Glenn Cooke Memorial Warrnambool 21st mach 09

60 riders conteseted the Glenn Cooke Memorial at Warrnambool on the Weekend.
Conditions were hot, dry & very windy, which saw only 16 riders complete the 60km circuit.

The out marker Stuart Robinson from Hamilton, lead for the first two laps on his own, but was soon Rounded up by the field. With each lap, spectators at the Wangoom Store were joined by hot & Weary Riders, savouring a cold drink and icecream.

With two laps to goit became obvious that the winners were going to come from riders from the 9 or 5 minute marks, and as the scratch bunch succumbed to the conditions, second scratch were riding for fastest time.

In a sprint for the line, the 9 minute markers were able to hold off their rivals, with Kane Frazer(Hamilton) crossing the line in first place, Heath Riley(hamilton) 2nd, Tony Prytz(Colac) 3rd, Barry Warren(Warrnambool) 4th, Garry Polack (Hamilton) 5th & Fastest from second scratch.

It was a fantastic start to the 2009 South West Series, and we can only hope that numbers stay high through out the series.

Series Points.
1 Kane Frazer 30
2 Heath Riley 29
3 Tony Prytz 28
4 Barry Warren 27
5 Garry Polack 26
6 Matthew Gstrien 25
7 Paul Bosch 24
8 Andy Graham 23
9 Neil O'Donnel 22
10 Clive Coomber 21

Hi to all prospective competitors in this Years South West Series.

We are Happy to support this Series, I think its a great series of bike racing and hope that all members from all clubs involved HAVE A GO THIS YEAR!

All of the races are good events, the more that turn out the better!

Banks Thargo's Contribution to the event,

will be Wine for the winners and fastest time, and a leaders jersey for the series that the winner can take home and hang up on the wall at the end of the series, Jersey will probably will need a wash first!

We would dearly like to have a leaders jersey on a Female as well as a male in the seniors part of the racing so to all you female riders out there on your bikes!

The Banks Thargo Wines given to the successful Competitors at each event during the series,is given from us as a series sponsor, and in no way do we want to interfear with any of the respective sponsors from each individual event.

So If you win the Soldiers Memorial, the Mount Gambier RSL is the Sponsor for that event. Our Contribution will be for your success in the South West series, it is to "Compliment" the Prize at each event.

Personally I think the South West Series is a great series, if time permitted I would compete in all of the events, unfortunatelly time doesnt so I will do what I can.

For all those that arnt participating Have a go this year!

BIG FIELDS MAKE GREAT RACES!

We would dearly like to give you some wine! provided you are over 18 of course

2009 Road Series Callender

March,

Sat 21st Glen Cook Warrnambool
sat 28th Max Mckenzie Mt Gambier

April,

sat 18th camperdown Camperdown
sat 25th ANZAC Soliers memorial Mt Gambier $1200 prize money!!!

May

sat 2nd Frank long Hamilton
sun 10th hamilton to port faity Port Fairy

16th & 17th 100 mile & Blue lake Classic (OPEN) not SWS Big weekend Big prize money

June

sat 6th Greg Gleeson Warrnambool
Sun 7th Woodrup Port Fairy
Mon 8th Stan mcphee Warrnambool
Sun 14th Casterton 40 Hamilton

sat 27th Casterton 50 (OPEN) NOT SWS

July

sat 11th Hamilton 120km (OPEN) NOT SWS
sun 12th Port Fairy 100km championship (OPEN) NOT SWS

August

Sat 22nd Coleraine IGA Hamilton
sun 23rd Gorae weast classic Portland

September

Sun 13th Goodall Hamilton

October

sat 10th Camperdown Camperdown