Soldiers Memorial Anzac day 2009

The 4th race of the South West Series, The "Soldiers Memorial" was held on april 25th 2009.
The conditions were extreme with over 10mm of precipitation falling within 1 hour of start time.
Quite a few riders were not keen to start the race while others were going to race regardless of conditions.

Juniors

The weather appeared to be breakingup around start time, so the juniors race started on time with 7 riders competing. Not long after the start the weather turned sour once again, with another heavy downpour and wind gusts up to 40kmph making for difficult riding conditions.

Alex Bosch (Ham) 1st Sam Dwyer (MG) 2nd &Fastest, Zac Kain (MG) 3rd

Seniors

With over 60 noms for the 'Soldiers" even the inclement weather didnt reduce the field too much with only a hand full of scratchings, a very respectable 54 riders lining up for the start.

The Handicapper Mr Scott Noonan divided the field into 9 bunches with limit getting a 20 minute start.

The weather conditions pointed toward a back markers day, and thats the way it panned out.

With a few scratchings from the front of the field & several "Missed starts" most of the front & middle bunches had trouble in the strong head and cross winds on the way out.

the 9-minute bunch with 6 riders, combined well as did the 7min 30 second bunch, with Jason Crowe, (9 mins) & Richard Woods (7.30 mins) driving their respective bunches to the 1/2 way mark, but all was in vain.

The 3 minute mark, Opperman, Bannon, McNamara, Mat Gstrein, Mann & Frazer showed the field good riding skills, picking up series leader Riley along the way, this bunch rode through the entire field & holding off and equally fast moving scratch bunch.

Kieran Bannon Mg took 1st place backing up his win in last years soldiers, Matt Gstrein camp. 2nd, Brian McNamara warrn 3rd, Matt opperman mg 4th & Roberty Mann mg 5th.

Bannons ride time was 58.40 mins & average speed a very respectable 41.42kmph

The scratch bunch rode equally well with schuttz taking fastest time at 57 mins.07 an average speed of 42.52 which under the conditions is outstanding!

Nicole Everett from camp. ave 31.24kmph was first female rider followed by Mellissa Mckinlay mg. ave 35.28

After the "soldiers Memorial" race 4 in the South West Series Heath Riley from Hamilton has consolodated his leading position on the points table and Nicole Everett from Camperdown is equally top scoring with Melissa Mckinlay as Nicole came in first in race 4 she wears the female riders leaders jersey.

The next Race in the series is the "Frank Long" in Hamilton.

Always a well contested event, steeped in tradition!

Keep an eye on the pink jerseys and make sure you beat them both back!

Full series points table below click on comments.

For a full breakdown on "Soldiers Memorial" Results and comprehensive statistics list for all competitors including juniors http://mgcatc.com/content/cyclingresult...al2009pdf

This statistics list compiled by "Cobalt" Mount Gambier

AXA Insurance Camperdown Classic

Results from the very successful 2nd annual "Axa Camperdown Classic" cycle road race over 58kms held on Saturday afternoon the 18th of April 2009.

A field of 61 riders from as far as Mount Gambier and Horsham joined the other 8 regional clubs for the running of the AXA INSURANCE Camperdown Classic road Race.
There was only one scratching from the programme on a cloudy day that saw drizzly showers threaten the start of the race. Luck had it that the roads dried up and racing was held in near perfect and dry weather conditions, with no falls or crashes, but a few withdrawls by some riders that found the hills and the pace a bit too much to handle. The 58kms course consisted of 3 laps of the fast and hilly lake Bullen Merri to Cobden circuit, with the start & finish beeing at Camperdown.
Nine bunches faced the starter at 2.00pm, with the small limit bunch off a 30 minute handicap. Bunches quickly grouped up and by midway 3 main bunches were speeding along. An intermediate sprint was held at the completion of the first lap of two and was won by young Monica Kelly from Horsham, who just pipped her club team-mate Matthew Opdecoul. In the mean time the backmarkers were quickly closing in on the leaders, and had them down to a gap of about 5 mins with one lap to go. A big crowd on the outskirts of town formed & soon the lead car was seen with the orange light flashing and decending down the hill to the finish.
One rider was away with a small bunch chasing him down into Camperdown.
It was David Tozer (pt fairy) from the scratch bunch, who had broken away from the feild and took the solo win well clear of the chasers of Simon Walsh off 5 mins, & Paul Nolte off the 12 minute mark. Fourth was Mark Hyland and fith, local favoutite Paul Kent both also from the 12 minute bunch.

Presentations were held at the Hampden Hotel followed by a slide presentation from TOPBIKE TOURS operators Emma & Dave Ollie. Who conduct cycle tour packages to all major European road races. This added a European race touch to the night which included wonderfull meals and beverages well into the night.

Results
1st David tozer Port Fairy
2nd Simon Walsh Port Fairy
3rd Paul Nolte Portland
4th Mark Hyland Warrnambool
5th Paul Kent Camperdown

Fastest time David Tozer Port Fairy
Intermediate sprint Monica Kelly
First Veteran David Tozer
1st Camperdown Rider Paul Kent
1st Female rider Jo Coombe

report compiled by E. Gstrien camperdown

For South West Series leader board click on comments below for the full table.
Next South West series Race will be Soldiers Memorial Mount Gambier on Anzac day, $1200 in Prize money for full race details check out Mount Gambier Cycling & Triathlon Club website.

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