By Katherine Stannard (with apologies to Banjo Patterson and Clancy of the Overflow)
I found this when I was cleaning out the cupboard the other day – while it is a race report from another time and another place it could be describing the twists and turns of almost any race. I thought you might enjoy it.
First, a little bit of background; the Grafton Inverell is a single day, graded, 240km race from Grafton, at sea level in northern New South Wales, up over the Gibraltar range (a winding climb of some 18km) to Inverell, some 600m above sea level. The year that Steve and I did the race Phil Anderson (aka Skippy) was invited to be the race starter. We were racing for our Northern Suburbs Club who were sponsored by the Clancy’s supermarket chain. The rest, as they say, is history….
As we marshalled on the start line
in the early morning light
There were twenty Clancy’s riders, maybe more
And as “Skippy” gave the signal
we were eager for the fight
And the ride to Inverell stretched out before
In the races early stages
a few hopefuls slipped away
To try and beat the bunch onto the climb
But the peloton was lazy
for the race would take all day
And the break was bound to tire before the line
So we pushed on through the foothills
over plick-a-planks and mud
Towards the feared and famed Gibraltar range
Then the race was on in earnest
there was lactic in our blood
And the mood within the bunch began to change
Around the first of many hairpins
the pressure seemed to rise
As the climbers made their move into the fore
Whilst with all their muscles burning
and stars spinning in their eyes
The “sprinters” looked around for the back door
The bunch was strung out thinly
as we rose into the mist
And the climbers pushed a pace that was insane
But the break was still not sighted
‘round the hairpins ugly twist
And the mist began to turn to icy rain
As the KOM drew nearer
our lungs screamed out for air
But the climbers had no mercy on their mind
They were focused on the mountain
and the leaders up ahead
And not upon the gasping bunch behind
As the final rise was sighted
‘round the final hairpin bend
The bunches hopes were raised of hanging on
But the gaps began to open
as the climbers kicked again
And split apart the shattered peloton
Now once up on the tablelands
the icy rain closed in
As the stragglers, desperate, chased the speeding pack
And whilst the way was flatter
we could not afford to spin
For the finish still lay five hours down the track
Once past the feeding station
the chasing pace picked up
News of the leading group had been obtained
Five riders working smoothly
and two from in our club
Somehow the bunch’s speed must be restrained!
It was then the Clancy’s riders
moved bravely to the front
To stop the chasing pack from working well
They must hold back the momentum
and turn them from the hunt
To ensure our boys a place in Inverell
As we sped on through Glen Innes
past the waving, cheering crowd
The break still had five minutes on the bunch
Then we knew our boys would make
that they would do us proud
There would be some Clancy’s colours at the crunch
The bunch had been disheartened
by the distance of the break
And two hundred K’s had surely took their toll
But as the line grew nearer
tired bodies lost their ache
And each rider strained toward the final goal
Now sweeping round the corner
the finish line in sight
The riders swapping, shifting for a “sit”
Now someone jumped too early
now someone down the right
The bunch was snaking, sprinting, “THIS IS IT”
In a last almighty effort
riders hurtle to the line
In a weaving, swearing, sweating, swerving pack
And somehow, someone gets it
comes over just in time
Following a lead out from the back
At last the ride is over
and we eager, gather ‘round
To hear about our riders in the break
To hear of their adventure
and how the finish found
Third and second give the local boys a shake
At last the ride is over
‘though the stragglers still roll in
Each with their lonely tale of pain to tell
And each will long remember
the day they made it “in”
The day they reached the finish of the Grafton Inverell
Needless to stay Steve was in the break, and also needless to say, got fifth in a five up sprint!