Thomson on top in Coolabah Turf Handicap

By Contributed

Jun 26, 2024

Neil Thomson (right) won the Coolabah Turf Handicap round five of the EMCC Winter race series. Photo: Richard Bailey

Moama Bowling Club EMCC Winter Racing Series 2024 - Race 5 recap

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Coolabah Turf Handicap

Once again we were greeted by perfect conditions, with 20 riders this year tackling the Coolabah Turf Handicap on our Kotta Loop, due to road works at Locky.

With a strong limit group, there were only 17.5 minutes from limit to scratch. Welcome back to Dom Molluso after a break from racing and Lenny Griffiths making a return after a fall.

With only a mild left-to-right southerly to contend with, the pace was on for the first 15 km out to the Kotta Rd turn.

The tail-lights of limit were a carrot for second limit to chase. The first victim was Liam Clohosey who needs to learn to say no to the handicapper when offered to go up a grade!

As the race progressed, limit was caught by second limit and block had caught the middle group, while the small scratch group was struggling to make up ground.

With effectively only three groups on the road, it was difficult for all to gauge where the chasing groups were.

Second limit were holding their own with strong efforts along Mitiamo Rd and when the fresh legs of Mel Smolenaars rolled through for a long turn, she gave the group the boost they needed and dropped the rest of limit in the process.

Into the home straight, it was clear that the winner would come from the five riders in the second limit group.

In an impressive display of power, it was Neil Thomson who kicked clear, using his track speed to create a gap, with a cheeky late look back to check he hadn’t gone early. Well done Neil on his first EMCC Trophy!

Thanks to race director H, handicapper Cam Smith and our marshals for the day Troy, Gary, Kaz Butcher, Russell Jeffreys.

We’ll see you all next week for something a little different with the first of our 2 Cyclocross races in Moama.

In our usual winter racing recess, in 2024 EMCC will be holding two cyclocross events on Saturday, June 29 and July 13.

We will hold a Come and Try event from 1pm for novices/school age juniors to ride the course and learn some basic skills - any helpers would be appreciated - participants need to register, limited to 10 riders:

Come and Try event registration can be made at https://www.ridenation.com.au/.../emcc-come-and.../100001685

EMCC Club racing from 2pm in a similar format to our crit racing with two grades on the track at once.