The shortest races are quite often the toughest. This race was no exception. Twenty five riders, thirty seven kilometres, three times around the Pararparap circuit, in absolutely perfect mild sunny conditions provided some very fast racing. Peter Wynne edged out James Stuart in a tight sprint finish for line honours.
Peter and James rode off 10½ minutes with John Hilsdon, Ross West and Atilla Harangozo and were the largest group, and the strongest. They easily reeled in the 14½ and 18 minute groups collecting John Bell along the way, but had to dig deep in the last few kilometres to catch the limit rider Ken Mansfield only a few hundred metres from the line. Once again Ken’s quest for victory was thwarted within sprinting distance of the finish line. The next group across the line was the 8½ minute group of Joe Gulino, Jim Knott and Paul Bird who rode a team time trial finishing a minute behind the winner but had not been caught by the back markers. With only a 2½ minute gap to the scratch group Carl Judd, Kane Airey, Nick Oakley and Neil Maurer rode a great race to hold off the scratch group. Fastest time was taken out by
scratch rider Steve Young who had combined with Carl Leahy and Barry Howden, to record an impressive time of 59:19 at an average of 37.43 km/hr.
Results:
1.P.Wynne 1:05:53 Ave 33.71, 2.J.Stuart, 3.J.Hilsdon, 4.Atilla Harangozo, 5.R.West, 6.K.Manfield, 7.J.Bell, 8.J.Gulino, 9.J.Knott, 10.P.Bird.
