There was a big roll up of riders to the Manning Valley Cycle Club summer criterium series at the Arkwright Circuit course and this ensured good quality racing in all grades.
Warm conditions prevailed and plenty of late afternoon light allowed for a bit of extended racing. Race secretary Rob Alley sent the 10 rider strong A-grade on their way, bolstered by two extra riders with Troy Croker and Grant Webster requesting promotions.
Josh Blick attacked immediately as is becoming his trademark move, taking Dan Aldridge with him. Dan Crossingham and Rhett Pattison were having none of this and with the help of Glen Mathiske, brought them back in after a couple of laps. Several more attacks came to nothing and a bunch sprint was fought out with Mathiske pipped by the width of a tyre by Aldridge. Crossingham was rewarded for a great ride with third place, relegating the consistent Blick to fourth. Unluckiest rider was Jack Steedman who punctured on the bell lap and walked his bike across the line for a last place finish. Grant Webster finished fifth and Troy Croker eigth.
There was a big bunch of B-graders with 15 riders making the start. Triathlon coach,Tony Kiehne made a return to cycle racing, having been enthused by the chance for some big bunch racing. Justin Woolard is regaining his form and went on an early raid but was chased down by Paul Nixon with the bunch not far behind. Silas Sutherland put pressure on at every opportunity, but it was going to be hard for anybody to escape the pack. In the sprint, Daniel Clinch who has also been racking up a few training kilometres, showed a clean pair of heels to win from Brett Provost in second and Justin Woolard in third. The sole woman in the field, Tanya Cross, raced well to finish ninth.
Russell Davis blew everybody away in the sprint to take a comfortable victory in the C-grade sprint. Thirteen riders started including newcomer Michael Godwin.
The usual aggressors in this grade were evident with Bill Harris, Troy Unicomb and Don Worger applying plenty of pressure. Mal Weiley went on the attack early but failed to make an impression. Ian Budden was second with Don Worger in third.
Clint Squires and John Hawkins are still coming to terms with the pace and both struggled to stay in contact.
D-grade was dominated by David Cowley, Kelle Nicholson, Tyler Nicholson and Judy Corbett, with a successful breakaway that was never headed. The chase bunch tried hard and despite big efforts from Alicia Norris, Phil Mitchell and Wilf Alley, had to sprint for the final pointscoring position of fifth place. Phil Mitchell took the final placing with Alley sixth. The handicapper caught up with Brian Louden, after four race wins in E-grade and gave him a D-grade start. He rode well for seventh, but was unable to unleash the famous Louden sprint. The leading group fought out the finish with David Cowley again dominant in the sprint. He won from Judy Corbett in second and Kelle Nicholson on this occasion getting the better of brother Tyler for third.
E-grade was the battle of the young up and comers with Ben Hayward, Jahl Nicholson, Oscar Watson-Sutherland and Jack Renneberg, breaking away early. They were never going to be caught and only Jahl Nicholson was unable to hold the pace, dropping off with only a couple of laps to go. Ben Hayward won the three up sprint from Oscar Watson-Sutherland and Jack Renneberg third. Jahl Nicholson hung on to finish alone in fourth. Caroline Pattison was best of the rest in fifth. James Sewell had his first ride up from the junior ranks and managed 10th place.
Twelve juniors raced the usual three lap handicap and this time Adrian Green took the flag for a much deseved win, riding with 1½ minutes advantage over the scratch mark. Second place rider, Jordon Blick had 2½ minutes and third placed Lachlan Cross, riding from the scratch mark and giving a total of seven minutes to the limit rider, Fraser Crossingham, also rode the fastest time. Zane Dawson was fourth and Cale Dawson fifth.
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