Bilney wins Frank Long Classic

69 Senior & 18 Junior Riders turned out for the 59th staging of the "Frank Long" .
An event which honours the late frank long a promising young back marker from the Hamilton Club.

The field for the senior's event was divided into 10 bunches, with the 2 scratchmen David Tozer Pt. Fairy & Brendan Schutz Hamilton giving 15 minutes to the limit riders.
The Race turned out to be a front Markers day aslo the race for time in this years race went to the "Block" riders with 16 year old Xavier Gstrien taking that honour, according to the official time keeper, second scratch only put 8 seconds on to the scratch riders ride time.
Schultz & Tozer easily being the two stand out strong men in district racing this year, the Handicappers decision was a wize one on the day, while scratch didnt get "Time" the two of them chasing a much larger second scratch off 30 seconds,with 7 riders and only losing 8 seconds is indicative of the current form of thes two riders.

The 9-minute bunch Bilney Mt Gambier, Robinson Hamilton, Earl Mt Gambier, Mclaren Hamilton, O'Donnel Portland, Lewis Hamilton combined well and picked up the 12 minute bunch just after the turn at the 1/2 way mark and then picked up limit about 10 km from the line.

These riders were able to stay away to the line and with Bilney in the leading bunch, one of the most experienced finishers in the district, a win was inevitable, Bilney won several Australian roadracing Titles as a younger rider.
While Ray in now his 60's may not be riding from scratch, he is always an exciting rider to watch leading up to a finishline if he is still "in the mix"

Final placings for the Frank Long

1st Ray Bilney Mount Gambier
2nd Matthew Opdecoul Horsham
3rd Mark Mclaren Hamilton
4th Monica Kelly Horsham
5th Stuart Robinson Hamilton
6th Mark Jehu Colac
7th Niel O'donnel Portland

8th Howard Bartlett Mount Gambier

9th Roger lewis Hamilton

10th Steven Kelly Horsham

Fastest time Xavier Gstrien Camperdown, (30 seconds) 48 minutes 59 sconds

JUNIORS RACING

IN J11/13

10 KM HANDICAP EVENT,

Ashleigh Hocking Warrnambool first & fastest at20 mins 30 seconds, Bradey Scouler Warrnambool 2nd Bailey belleville Port Fairy 3rd

J 15/17

20 KM HANDICAP EVENT

Dylan Lyndsey Portland 1st, Stacey Hocking Warrnambool 2nd Kieran Schnieder Horsham 3rd

Fastest Time Lachlan Nolte Portland a very respectable 31 minutes & 13 seconds, obvously a rider to watch in years to come!

In the South West Series Agregate

Heath Riley Hamilton stil has a strong hold on the number one spot for the males in the seniors, with quite a few more than capable riders, including several scratchmen and a few front markers within reach of the leaders jersey, things should hot up as the series progresses.

The Females leaders jersey has passed from Nicole Everett from Camperdown to Monica Kelly from Horsham, Monica is now 7 points ahead of both Nicole and Melissa Mckinlay from Mt Gambier & with 2 Port fairy races and 2 Warrnambool Races in the coming weeks expect to see Kate winnen from Pt Fairy in the mix as well!

For the full points table click on the Comments below.