2020 Easts Trophy Race • 23 February 2021

TUESDAY

NIGHT HEFFRON BY

season 36 23 February 2021 • Volume 98

43rd Easts trophy race

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LUKE CRIDLAND ADDS HIS NAME TO EASTS TROPHY HONOUR ROLL After being narrowly beaten in the 2019 Trophy Race, Luke Cridland made sure his name was on the 2020 edition

when he launched an audacious move on the last lap to

solo home in front of 3 of Sydney’s in form sprinters, Tom Bolton, Jack Bennett and Daniel Gandy.

The Easts Trophy was originally donated in 1978 by Don Beavis as a competition between the Randwick Botany

and Eastern Suburbs clubs with Randwick riders dominating for the first 5 years. The Cridland family have strong

ties with Heffron with Luke Cridland’s Uncle, Sean Ballesty winning in 1978.

Despite the threat of rain a strong field of 53 riders lined

up to contest the 20lap scratch race with over 20 B1 riders

stepping up to ride with Heffron’s elite, which also included 2021 Aust Junior Road Champ Dylan George. 4 previ-

ous winners were in the field Jack Bennett (2019), Darcy

Ellerm-Norton (2016), Liam Kelly (2001) and Paul Rowney (1996). Impressively all the previous winners, except for 2016 winner finished in the top 10

A brutal nights racing with the gusty southerly, speed and additional 5 laps all taking its toll on the field. An early break with Phil Lucas, Jesse Coyle and Paul Rowney

looked threatening, but this was destined to be a fight out for the sprinters.

That was until just after the bell when Luke Cridland spotted his opportunity and went for it. He managed to hold

them with the tailwind over the back of the course so it was whether he could hold the gap into the headwind finish.

A couple of nervous looks over his shoulder was all he

needed to cross the line for a memorable victory in the history of Easts Trophy Races.

Special mention must go to B1 riders Sam Douglas and Ben Ware for managing top 15 finishes.

TEAM RAULAND DELIVERS DEV GREWAL Team Rauland executed a perfect race plan to deliver Dev Grewal to a convincing win in the Trophy Hand-

icap. Luke Roper backed up the teams success with second in front of Ben Glastonbury. Peter O’Connor

and Josh Heffernan continue their recent solid results completing the top 5.

Other notable performances were Ryland Short in 6th in his first Tuesday Night race and first woman home Josie Talbot who crossed the line 7th overall.

Tom Gray may have been disappointed with mixing up the lap numbers in the Spurgeon Memorial Handicap last month but made mistake to win C grade beating home in form Justin Diddams. Harriet Lowden impressed again with a strong ride for third.