The bikes are back

Cyclists hit the road again after summer holiday break

After a hiatus through the Summer school holidays, Mount Gambier Cycling Club members were keen to begin racing again. The first race was held over the familiar 25km course on Caves Road, with enough junior riders signing on for a 10km race.

Five young riders, mainly introduced to cycling through the Limestone Coast Regional Track Cycling Academy, greeted the commissaire and signed on to race along a 10km out and back route.

They were each assigned a chaperone and set off in one minute intervals with Molly Opperman leading proceedings. She was followed by Xavier Farmilo, Glenn Tye, Sean Tye and Jesse Tull.

With the focus on getting each rider familiar with road racing, the racers were allowed to swap turns with their chaperone until they were either caught by, or caught another rider. At the finish line, Xavier had caught and passed Molly, with Sean and Jesse following, then Glenn. It was great to see the parents and supporters with their young charges (all pictured below).

Following the junior race, 17 riders were assigned into their handicap groupings and began their race.

First away were Jason Buckland and Dianne Major, followed five minutes later by Jen Buckland, Ainsley Curtis and Michael Dethmore. After a further four minutes had elapsed, David Tye, Spek Peake and Bruce McLaughlin were allowed to begin their chase, with Mike Bakker and Dean Zeven starting another minute later. Young guns Elmer Buckland, Paddy Langsmith and Riley Hill allowed before beginning their chase, with the final grouping of Jami Buckley, Matthew Opperman, Dave Bryant and Gerard Coote waiting a further three minutes for their chance to chase down everyone ahead of them.

With the wind coming from the South East, riders worked hard into the wind for the first 12.5km before enjoying a faster run towards the finish line. A flat tyre 7km into the race unfortunately ended

Di Major’s race early, with Jason carrying on alone at the front of the race until the turnaround.

Bruce McLaughlin was dropped from his group during the outward leg, but was able to latch onto the following group and catch up with his riding partners later in the race. The same could not be said for Gerard who was unfortunately dropped from the scratch bunch, and faced the long lonely race to the end.

Speeds picked up as the riders

Winners are grinners at the Mount Gambier RSL & District Bowling Club

toward the finish line. With 6km to go, Jason was caught and passed by Ainsley and Jen. Matthew, Dave and Jami were racing hard to catch the riders ahead of them, and caught the closest bunch with 7km to go. Paddy, Riley and Elmer kept pace with them for most of the rest of the race as they passed each one ahead of them. As they crested the final hill and could see the finish line, they had caught all ahead of them, and in the sprint to the line, it was Jami Buckley who took out first and fastest, followed by Matthew Opperman and Dave Bryant, then came Paddy Langsmith, Elmer Buckland, Riley Hill, Dave Tye, Spek Peake, Dean Zeven, Mike Bakker, Jen Buckland, Ainsley Curtis, Bruce McLaughlin, Jason Buckland, Michael Dethmore, and Gerard Coote.

SENIOR RACE PODIUM: (Above) Matthew Opperman (2nd), Jami

Perfect conditions greet golf veterans

There were 70 South East Golf Veteran players who turned out at the Mount Gambier course on a perfect day for golf, which was reflected in the scoring. First Division was won by David Lovie, from Blue Lake, with a smooth 39 points on a countback from Sid Arkun, of Beachport, with Lindsay Storer, of Penola, 38 for third. Second Division went to president Glen Tilley, of Millicent, with a wonderful 42 from local Bob Tonkin 41, and Bob O’Conner, 40.

The NTPs were Jimmy Hyland on the 8th and Alan Schultz on the 16th and the Ross Orchard prize went to Herman VanderHeul and Colin Rex. The ball rundown went to 33. The next meeting is at the challenging Robe course, on February 13, followed by Blue Lake on

Twenty-four bowlers hit the Mount Gambier RSL & District Bowling Club for social bowls at the end of last month. Anyone interested in taking up this opportunity should ring the club on (08)8725 9515 by 12.30pm on Saturday and be at the club by 1pm ready for play. Les James and Ellie Clarke combined to win the social event with 52 points. The club’s championship men’s triples were also played at the end of last month with Garry Bowering, Graham Dent and Bryan Roper taking the title from Neil Tobin, Chris Waugh and Robert Corner.

SOCIAL COMPETITION WINNERS: (Above top) Les James & Ellie Clarke

MEN’S TRIPLES CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS: (Above centre) Garry Bowering, Graham Dent & Bryan Roper

MEN’S TRIPLES CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNERS UP: (Above bottom) Neil Tobin, Chris Waugh & Robert Corner