Griffiths takes race six

By Contributed

Jul 10, 2024

Lenny Griffiths took out round six of the EMCC Winter Race series. Photo: Richard Bailey.

Moama Bowling Club Winter Race Series - Round six

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14 riders were spread across four groups today with our limit group of Heather Lias, Kaz Griffiths and Mel Smolenaars setting off eight minutes before Darren McKemmish, Matt Dobeli and Troy Griffiths - who doesn’t seem to be able to let go of his new gravel bike.

Block, a further six minutes back, consisted of Nick Woods, Dom Molluso, Matt Sullivan and Gordon Durnan, with our scratch group of Lenny Griffiths, George Griffiths, Nathan Oman and Cam Smith, rounding out the field a further minute back.

On the outward stretch on Mt Terrick Rd, Matt, Daz and Troy had made up nearly 3.5 minutes on limit, thanks mainly to Troy’s new-found gravel bike enthusiasm.

At the same time scratch were flying with a slight tailwind. They’d dropped Cam (who had some help from Steve Gray to motor pace back on), and they’d also caught block, halving the seven-minute gap to the group in front.

After riding strongly, the inevitable happened and scratch/block caught Matt/Daz/Troy and used it as a chance to break up the race as they dropped Matt Sullivan, Dom Molluso and Gordon, while Nick Woods was able to hang on to scratch.

With Matt Dobeli and Troy and then Mel sucking their back wheels, Matt, Gordon and Dom pushed on, with scratch never getting out of sight.

In the final sprint to the line, it was Lenny Griffiths first, followed by younger brother George second. Nick Woods, who’d been dropped approaching the finish, worked his way back to finish third, with Nathan Oman fourth. Finishing at the front of the next bunch was Gordon in fifth.

Well done to all riders and well done to handicapper Cam, with only 35 seconds between our winner, Lenny, and ninth place and first female Mel.

Thanks to race director H and to our marshals Claire, Dave Oman, Steve Gray and to Griffiths’ friend Nathan as lead vehicle.

We’ll see you all next week for the second instalment of EMCC Cyclocross.