The Star & Garter club champs followed the now familar course of Coastals, Seaton, Cemetry Corner, Moutere, Waimea West and finished in Ranzau Road. One of the keys to doing well in this race is to not get caught out early on - as its a combined mass start.
There was a fairly strong northerly but things held together pretty much until Seaton Valley where we lost a few. It was around here that Robin Reid broke away. As the results are worked out by age there was no reason for me to worry about that. We lost a few more along the road to moutere but still had a fairly good group of around 14.
It was in the cross wind at the bottom of the hill where things got a little more tricky as finding shelter was a bit difficult. As we turned to follow the Waimea West straight Dean produced a massive turn of speed and I found myself struggling to hold on. We were doing about 62kph and there was no way that I was going to do a lap at that pace. I looked around the group to see what other V2 guys there were. I think there was only Mark McGinley left so I just had to keep an eye on him. Chris Nicholson had registered as a Senior so hopefully thats what his grade would be and Rob had just moved up to V3. Turning back into the wind towards Richmond we worked together to try and bring back Robin but I think several of the guys were thinking about their own placings instead of the over all win. In the sprint I managed to get just behind Ross and Chris - there was no way that I would get past them but I was the first V2 which made me the new V2 Champ! - not that it means anything! Rob took out the V3 and Ross took the V1.
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