Visiting riders scoped the pool in “A” grade at the Geelong Veterans Scratch races at Paraparap on Sunday September 21st.
34 riders split into 5 grades raced over distances of 4 laps, 49km for A,B & C grades and 3 laps, 37km for D & E grades at the Paraparap Hendy Main road circuit. Glorious sunny spring weather with a light south easterly encouraged spirited riding and quick times. A grade riders Scott Riddel and Trevor Coulterfrom from Northern Veterans got off to a flyer, riding off the front of the peloton and staying away from the chasing riders. Riddel took out the two man sprint with Justin Vincent from Warrnambool Veterans leading the rest home. It was a similar opening for B grade with Marcus Coppock and Michael Hartman getting away on the second lap. The difference was the chasing peloton successfully hunted the pair down on the last lap to ensure a bunch sprint finish. Mark Micalleff from Northern veterans winning from Coppock with Phil Tehan third. Ten evenly matched C grade riders could not be split up with only Dennis Sonogan able to ride off the front for a short time on the last lap. The finish came down to an eight man sprint with Paul Bird taking line honour from Terry Dwyer and Barry Clay. Only four riders contested D grade with Richard Buckwell out sprinting Ross West and the hard working Phil Preston. Sue Cox was too fast at the finish for Don Stuart in E grade.
Results:
A Grade: Scott Riddel (Northern), Trevor Coulter (Northern), Justin Vincent (Warrnambool) Ave 37.16 km/hr
B Grade: Mark Micalleff (Northern), Marcus Coppock, Phil Tehan (Northern) Ave 35.79 km/hr
C Grade: Paul Bird, Terry Dwyer (Northern), Barry Clay Ave 34.14 km/hr
D Grade: Richard Buckwell, Ross West, Phil Preston Ave 28.47 km/hr
E Grade: Sue Cox, Don Stuart Ave 24.56 km/hr
Next Sunday’s race is a 70km “mountain top finish” handicap.
