Light rain was threatening the event, but six of the seven who had claimed availability to race arrived to challenge the 32.3 km distance.
Wayde Foster, Pickles Davis and Hannah Gibbons were given a five-minute start from the likely contenders, Craig Sloper, David Daly and Paul Hogan. It is unusual to get a start in scratch racing, but these three were pretty much out of the equation.
Pickles stated that he was very tired after a hard ride on Saturday with Olympic champion Brett Lancaster and would not be able to match the pace of the stronger three.
Wayde, cheerful as usual, would find the Mt Gwynne climb a little too steep to threaten the three chasing riders.
David and Craig were the most likely to take the title. David had done very little on the bike since his meritorious victory at the Nailcan Ironman event at Albury earlier in May.
Craig had done a 180km training ride the day before. Surely he would be too fatigued to race at his very best. All was going well until the climb where Craig took off and left the co-riders in his wake.
David chased for the entire return journey but the very athletic 51-year-old from Strathmerton was too strong and claimed the title, averaging more than 38km/h.
It was his first title with the club, but judging by his superb fitness it may not be his last. Hannah claimed third in a very strong ride to average a little over 31km/h. Well done Hannah.
The others — Wayde, Paul and Pickles — came in a little later to take the very minor placings. As usual, former multiple club champion Raymond Jarratt acted as timekeeper and commissaire, a far cry from the halcyon days of his outstanding career.
And talking to Corowa paramedic David Daly regarding his recent form, I was astounded when he informed me that he had won the very tough Nailcan Ironman event, which incorporated a mountain bike circuit in which he finished sixth.
The winner of this leg was Daniel Luke of Albury, who won the recent Raymond Jarratt Handicap at Boomanoomana. The 43-year-old ambo finished 47th in the run, enabling him to take out first place amongst the hundreds of competitors. Another "feather in your cap" David, well done.
Next Sunday, June 4 a race could be arranged if enough interest can be aroused. Five starters is the minimum and entries must be in by 6pm the previous day.
– by Raymond Jarratt
17°C