With H away, Kaz stepped in as race director.
A-grade
Nathan Oman returned after his win last week to again take on the young guns Harry Moller and Lenny and George Griffiths, and in the blink of an eye they were off.
Fortunately for Harry and Nathan, the Griffiths boys are just as interested in testing each other, as working together, and the group rode strongly but together, often settling into a steady pace before a surge.
Mid-race, Lenny made his move to try and break clear, but once again it was George who closed the gap and dragged the group back together.
With the ring of the bell for the final lap, it was Lenny out front with a fast-finishing Nathan Oman alongside.
In the throw to the line it was Lenny by half a wheel to Nathan with George in third.
B-grade
Again four riders set off in B-grade with Cameron Smith, Francis Lias, Scott Moller and Brayden Walsh set to fight it out.
On paper, it looked to be a fast but evenly matched group.
Brayden looked the strongest rider at times, but would his legs hold out just five days post Melbourne half-Ironman?
Scott Moller was staying upright and prepared to take strong turns, while Cam and Francis kept the pace high.
Into the final lap it was Brayden and Scott challenging for the win, with Scott just pipping him on the line, with Francis in 3rd.
C-grade
Matt Dobeli, Dave Faulkner, Will Kettle, Neil Thomson and Mel Smolenaars were joined by UCI World Age Group champ Myles Higgins from Shepparton Cycling club to race.
From the outset, racing this week would be different.
Will Kettle boiled early and took off, Myles came to the front and worried everyone with his strength, and it was clear that the TT champ couldn’t be given a gap.
Track devotee Neil was ever lurking in the background, hoping to use his speed.
Dave Faulkner mused what he had done to earn the new nickname ‘the forker’.
As they approached the start/finish for the final time, Matt had blinked first and surged, only to cramp soon after, but the unplanned lead out threw Will, Neil and Dave into the action for the final lap.
At the line it was Will again our winner from Neil and The Forker in 3rd.
D-grade
A big group of six riders set off for the D-grade race with Ray Hamilton, Jerrod Davison, Neil Ennis, Zenon Gawronski, Heather Lias and Paul Oman to battle it out.
Early in the race, the field split in two with Neil, Paul and Heather breaking clear, and it was only a huge turn by Jerrod that managed to drag the groups back together.
Strong turns kept the pace ticking over as Zenon found himself out the back.
As the race progressed, it wasn’t clear who would have the legs.
On the bell lap, it was Neil who burst away with a good gap down the back straight, and he held his place to finish first, interestingly, without a checkered flag, cheering was more important than formalities for race director Kaz.
In the sprint of the night, Heather and Paul Oman were neck and neck to the line, with Heather just getting up for second.
Thanks to prize sponsor Ash Hall Cycles, thanks to race director Kaz and to Cam for setting up.
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