18.12.09

It was a packed program at the velodrome on Friday night for the final night of racing for the year.  After a two week break, Friday night competition will resume on January 8.

Beginning the third week of round two of the McLeods Motors point series competition for points, it was fierce across all grades and some very close finishes kept the judges on their toes.  It was a tight finish to the senior A grade three lap handicap between the first three places, and Darren Anderson (25m) put in a very strong second lap to get alongside Dylan Starkey (55m) down the back straight.  Tim Fulton (0m) gave it his all, but unfortunately couldn't make up the distance to reach the riders in front.  Anderson and Starkey worked together to reel in Jai Sutton (60m) in the final lap.  Starkey led with Anderson and Sutton side by side on his back wheel as they approached the finish, but held them off although Anderson's wheel was judged to ahead of Suttons as they crossed the line.

Competition was tight in the senior B grade races between Keith Gibbons, Kelvin Rohrlach, Nick Hellowell, Peter Werner and Paul Waring.  Rohrlach was the one to attack in the scratch races, but the others responded each time and he wasn't able to make a break.  Waring made the most of this limit advantage in the handicap races, holding off the rest of the field.

With these riders moving up a grade, the C grade riders were more evenly matched, although Jarrod Hamilton, who moved up from the juniors, found the faster pace of the senior grade a bit of a challenge.  He dropped slightly off the back of the bunch after seven laps of the 12 lap scratch race, and when Nicole Goldring lifted the pace during the next lap he couldn't bridge the gap.  The lift in pace also saw Darryl Fulton lose contact with the group, working hard in the next lap to get back on.  Goldring attacked again just as he rejoined to split the field, but Adrian Wilson closed the gap to Goldring and was on her wheel as they got the last lap bell.  Goldring went high on the track, giving Wilson the opportunity to dive under and take the sprinters lane, but keeping Goldring on his hip so she had to work harder on the outside.  Wilson worked hard to keep the lead to the line, finishing ahead of Goldring, Pierce Sutton, Fulton and Hamilton.

Charlotte Wakeling took out the scratch race and the elimination in junior A grade, while sister Liza held her lead to the line in the handicap race with Jessica Shore and Jacob Hughes not far off the pace either.  In the junior B grade six lap scratch race, Connor Margaritis attacked halfway through, but Justin Burke was ready for it and responded immediately while Dana Prater steadily reeled them in.  It was Burke first, followed by Margaritis, Prater, Corey Gibbons, Chloe Hellowell and Bailey Kesby.

Leyton Gould and Hudson Barsby showed improved race fitness in the 24" bikes, throwing down the challenge to Chris Margaritis making him work hard for first place, sharing the minor placings with Heather Cutting and showing strength in the handicap races by holding off the boys.

The handicapper was spot-on in the final two lap handicap for the older minis, with Scott Litchfield, Holly Farrell and Leroy Risborg together as they came down the home straight to the finish.  Farrell was first to the line with Litchfield and Risborg close on her wheel.

The visit by Santa in the middle of the program was a highlight for the younger riders and spectators, and after a lap of the track seated on the tray of Scott Litchfield's trike, Santa gave out lollies to the waiting crowd.

FULL RACE RESULTS HERE