Another interstate challenge for Bart Duraj in the final of the Pump and Pedals series saw this time the local Champion Duraj hold off the strong finish of Canberra based Dutch rider Rien Schuuhuis in without doubt the best race of the series
Only a fortnight ago Duraj went down narrowly to young West Australian Road champion Bradley Linfield to break his long winning sequence of Criterium victories. However riding on One day permits Duraj had to contend with Schuuhuis and young visiting German rider Thomas Nyhues. The race commenced with the pace on and Duraj was going to make sure this Pump and Pedals final wasn’t just a sit and sprint. In the early laps Thomas Nyhues, Duncan Murray and Ben Coulter went with Duraj they were joined by Jim Dorney Lincoln Carolan and Paul Mashford not to be outdone Mark Bamford and Isaac Fleming were also vying for the coveted front position.
Bamford and Duraj had established a small lead when they flew past the Judges box heading for the sprint lap. In recent sprint finishes Bart Duraj hadn’t bothered with the sprint side on the race waiting to pounce shortly after. This time it was evident that either Bamford or Duraj would take the sprint honours and it was Duraj who had the better of Bamford with Rein Schuuhuis back in third spot.
The race now on in earnest with the lead group being joined by at various times by Dorney, Fleming and Oliver Phillips something had to give and a puncture to Thomas Nyhues didn’t enhance his chances despite the loan of a wheel and the quick change thanks to the fast thinking of Gavin Butler who was standing nearby. Well into the race a group of five riders had snuck a 30 second break Bamford, Duraj, Paul Mashford, Schuurhuis and back into the fray after standing out his mandatory lap was again Nyhues his effort however was short lived as he punctured again and this left four whose break had now stretched out to fifty seconds.
Leading the chase to catch the Quartet were Duncan Murray, Oliver Phillips, Isaac Fleming and Lincoln Carolan however it was obvious the task would be too much and with three laps left and the crowd on their toes the four leaders chopped and changed until Duraj and Schuuhuis a lap and a half out poured on the pressure. Waiting for both riders to come into view for the final time, the first to appear were the pale Green Colours of Rien Schuuhuis and just when many thought the race would go to another interstate rider, hidden close to the gutter and slightly obscured by a cover of trees was the unmistakable style of Bart Duraj literally flying home to win the race and wrap up the series. Schuuhuis put up a magnificent effort to finish second and not far behind came Mark Bamford and Paul Mashford in that order. There was a spirited sprint for fifth place and this went to Oliver Phillips just in front of Isaac Fleming.
Hats off to Duraj for taking the series amassing an impressive 73 points over the three races staged by Pump and Pedals, having one race abandoned because of weather. Second in the series was Paul Mashford with 32 and third Mark Bamford who finished with 31pts.
B GRADE. Twenty riders heard the whistle to begin the final race however with current series leader Michael Haseldine out contention due to a prior commitment there were only two possible chances of toppling the winner of the two previous races. Greg Hutton on 23 pts or Peter Bridgewater 21pts Peter being 19 adrift of Haseldine who sat in the clubhouse on 40pts so with the winner to receive 20 pts either Hutton or Bridgewater had to win to take the Pump and Pedals prize.
As usual the packed field had many riders doing their share of work early and the familiar red colours of Jasmine McMillan showed out strongly along with Carley McKay and Matt O’connor these three were always near the top end and had for company in the early stages Mark Hogan, Dean Pollock, Aimee Ingram and Gavin Butler.
The lead chopping and changing often with Gavin Butler and Brett Welsh being prominent as the field headed into the sprint lap. The big field meant that position on the road for the Spotto Sprint was vital and it was noticeable that The HUTTON boys Greg and David had moved into con
tention as was Peter Bridgewater whose sprinting in this series has been superb however as they crossed the line it was Brett Welsh grabbing the points in a tight finish from Bridgewater.
Sprint over and the attack came in the form of Grahame Allen and Mark Hogan who shot to a strong lead and the two riders worked together in an attempt to ruffle the feathers of the main group. Leading in the chase to bring Allen and Hogan back was the hard man himself Don Huyser accompanied by Aimee Ingram, Darren Finch, Greg Hutton, Jasmine Mc Millan and Brett Jeffrey. Allen was the first caught then the group set out after Hogan they reeled him in with only a few laps to go. Now it was anyone’s guess Neil Gregory was looking comfortable Grahame Allen was still in it as was Finch, Mc Millan and David Hutton.
Last lap and over the rise Brett Jeffrey led out with Peter Bridgewater in hot pursuit and in a thrilling drive to the line the photo print showed that the caller finally got one right with Bridgewater snatching victory by the narrowest of margins over Jeffrey to grab the race and clinch the series, third place went to Neil Gregory with Darren Finch a close up fourth followed by David Hutton and Grahame Allen. With Michael Haseldine watching the race it all added to the atmosphere as Michael saw Peter pinch the series by a solitary POINT.
C GRADE
Down in numbers C Grade had only eight competitors leave the start including the late addition of veteran Jeff Hartley who has the Australian Masters Games in his sights being held in Adelaide from 3rd October to the 10th Jeff had already had a spin around in D grade where he finished fifth and thought he needed more practice.
With fifteen points up for grabs Brandon Hutton only had to stay on his bike to secure victory as the season leader Demian Bullock was unavailable. Brandon only had to finish 1st or 2nd to take the title and this he did by smashing the sprint and then going on to win the Criterium from Mark Smedts who also finished 2nd in sprint to Brandon third place went to Mark Proctor just in front of Al Hodge.
Strong rides in this division where put by Kathryn Deed Mark Proctor and Al Hodge who worked well throughout the race. A great cheer went up as Behailu Green outgunned Jeff Hartley in a spirited bid not to be last over the line.
D GRADE
The winner of this division was a promising youngster from Malanda Ryan Smith. Ryan had us all watching closely after he was narrowly defeated in the Sprint by John Peterson and he matched it throughout the race with Peterson, Hartley, Gavin Tindall and another youngster in Kane Hodge. In the final dash to the line Ryan Smith defeated Peterson with Kane Hodge close up in third spot. Watch this space for the progression of young Smith and Hodge.
A huge shout out to all the volunteers for without you we don’t race.
Jonesy Course Commentator
Cairns Cycling Club 