The strong westerly wind was probably responsible for a field of 33 riders, down from the record 50 of last week. As the night went on the wind eased and the meeting was held in reasonable conditions. We were treated to tight competitive racing, tighter photo finishes and to top it off we had the finesse and flow of team pursuits. One spectator noted that we are privileged to be entertained by such quality sporting theatre and entry is free.
The meeting was made up of 5 lap races followed by team pursuit trials then finished off with longer handicap races, all raced in age divisions. The under 15 boys and girls race produced the biggest finish with nine riders bombing the line from all over the track only for the win to be awarded along with a cash prize of $20 to James Cuff who was finishing the strongest on the outside lane. The team pursuits provided an opportunity for the riders to work as a team to bring about the best team performance. The cleanest demonstration of lapping and team work was provided by the masters combination the most powerful, efficient and fastest was provided by the PNBHS senior boys combination. One aspect of our track nights is the range of ages we enjoy and the enthusiasm with which our experienced riders encourage and teach our less experienced riders. The team pursuit allowed us to match the younger riders with our masters riders so the masters riders could work with the younger riders on the track to talk them through the event.
The race of the night was the final 12 lap handicap race made up of under 17 women up plus under 19 men up. The scratch bunch of PNBHS senior riders Mark Finlay, Jaycob Humphreys, Josh Chard and Luuk van Wantendonk were giving masters riders Roger Nicholas and Peter Wenborn 1 lap plus 100 metres. From the start Mark launched his first attack and opened a 10 metre gap from the other scratch riders the limit markers also got into their lapping work early to protect the handicap they had been given. After the first lap the scratch bunch had reformed and began to lap out.
The scratchies caught the limit men with 8 laps to go but because of the handicap the limit men were still a lap ahead of them. Roger latched onto the back of the scratchies like a limpet mine as they began the task of unlapping themselves. It took two laps of concerted effort for the scratchies to free themselves of a tenacious Roger but once they did they had one focus. The race had 5 laps to go and Mark launched another attack which forced Jaycob and Josh to work to bridge the gap, the sound of the tyres sizzling over asphalt provided the soundtrack to the battle on the track. The gap was bridged and Mark took a spell with three laps to go but Roger was tiring and facing the breeze at turn three was taking its toll.
On the last lap the bulk of the field merged to form a lead bunch that included Roger, Mark, Jaycob and Josh with 250 metres to go Mark launched his final attack and he had opened a 15 metre gap with less than a 100 metres to go but Jaycob had one more gap to bridge and only 100 metres to do it in. The fight in both of these riders was clear to see but as the distance to the finish line was reducing so was the gap between the riders and with a final surge over the last 20 metres Jaycob was able to catch then pass Mark for the win by less than half a wheel width.
Riders of the night were selected by Commissaire of the meet Marcel Hollenstein. Under 17 rider was James Denholm for a gutsy effort to ride solo in difficult conditions to almost hold off a strong scratch bunch. The over 17 rider was awarded to Jaycob Humphreys for winning both hotly contested races. A special thank you to John Stewart, who stayed behind with a spray can to go over the numbers on the track.
Results:
Under 15 Boys and Girls 5 laps race on the whistle
1st Michaela Drummond
2nd Chris Denholm
3rd Jake van Lienen
4th Robert Stannard
Under 17 Boys 5 laps race on whistle
1st Campbell Stewart
2nd Cameron Howell
3rd George Roberts
4th Josh Kendall
Under 17, under 19, Senior and Masters Women 5 lap scratch race
1st Kate Stewart
2nd Kelsi Eccles
3rd Sharon Hollenstein
4th Tegan Roffe
U19 Men and Senior and Masters Men5 lap scratch race
1st Jaycob Humphreys
2nd Josh Chard
3rd Luuk van Wantendonk
4th Mark Finlay
Team Pursuits 4 laps
Thomas Stannard 2 min 45.09 sec
Carne Groube
Jake van Lienen
Hayden Washington-Smith
James Cuff
Chris Denholm 2 min 29.26 sec
Robert Stannard
Owen Rattcliffe
Michaela Drummond
Libby Arbuckle 2 min 57.96 sec
Emily Shearman
Roger Nicholas
Peter Wenborn
Tegan Roffe 2 min 29.58 sec
Kelsi Eccles
Kate Stewart
Sharon Hollenstein
Cameron Howell 2 min 15.74 sec
Campbell Stewart
George Roberts
Josh Kendall
Matt Elliott 2 min 29.95 sec
James Denholm
Liam Barber
Marcel Hollenstein
Sharon Hollenstein 2 min 27.09 sec
Peter Wenborn
Roger Nicholas
Brent Zimmerman
Josh Chard 2min 09.48 sec
Mark Finlay
Cameron Gibbons
Jaycob Humphreys
Luuk van Wantendonk
Under 15 girls and boys 6 lap handicap race
1st James Cuff
2nd Hayden Washington- Smith
3rd Owen Rattcliffe
4th Jake van Lienen
Under 17 boys 6 lap handicap race
1st George Roberts
2nd Cameron Howell
3rd James Denholm
4th Josh Kendall
Under 17 girls up to Masters Women
1st Kate Stewart
2nd Sharon Hollenstein
3rd Kelsi Eccles
4th Tegan Roffe
under 19 Men up to Masters
1st Jaycob Humphreys
2nd Mark Finlay
3rd Josh Chard
4th Roger Nicolas