Results

We had another bumper turn out for yesterday’s race so thank you to everyone for participating and to Pat, Ricky and the race day team for putting on an exciting race.
🏆 Congratulations to podium finishers Leigh Pridmore🥇finishing just in front of Laurie McKown🥈on her first ride with the club and Paul McKenzie🥉who managed to make his way through the rest of the field over the course of 2 laps.
📋 We will work out the series leaderboard and get that up later today. For now, see below for yesterdays results in full👇🏼
🏆 RACE RESULTS – CARRICK RACE 2/3:
1. Leigh Pridmore
2. Laurie McKeon
3. Paul McKenzie
4. Nick Kerkham
5. Michael Truscott
6. Dylan Forbes
7. James McKee
8. Rod Johnson
9. Alberto Garcia
10. Scott Smith
11. Brenden Simpson-Kitt
12. Tony Savage
13. Matt Bonham
14. Kaine Arkley
15. Ricky Allen
16. Keith Gibson
17. Dave Bingley
18. Tim Burford
19. David Murray
20. Mark Digney
21. Matt Breakspear
22. Simon Donovan
23. Peter Dadson
24. Sheri Leslie
DNF James Nevin
DNF Pat Oldham
DNF Kalem Richardson
DNF Emily Walker
DNF Tim Watson
There were a few riders who did not finish the course this week for one reason or another – returning to racing, a tough handicap, mechanical/puncture. For anyone who found it hard going this week, please bear with us while we find out where everyone is able to ride. We will keep working on it to get each person’s handicap just right.

There was a good turnout of 29 riders for the second race at the NVCC Carrick 3 race series. Conditions were a bit tougher than last week with a strong SE breeze and the hillier course taking its toll.
Good to see a few new riders and a few faces who hadn’t raced for a year or two. The B grade bunch of Michael Trusscott, Alberto García Gómez and Kalem Richardson rode strongly on the first lap, Michael and Alberto catching the C1 group about 10km into the second lap. Only Dylan Forbes could hook onto these two. Meanwhile, the scratch bunch were making ground behind. Nick Kerkham and Paul McKenzie rode strongly to catch B grade just a few hundred meters from the finish.
However, the F grade group of Leigh Pridmore, Laurie Mckeon and Sheri Leslie had been riding valiantly at the front. Leigh and Laurie manage to stay just ahead of scratch, finishing in that order, with Paul McKenzie third. Series standings will be calculated in the week and listed and posted before next weeks race.
Thanks to duty riders Julian Clayton Alex Robinson. Also Pat Coe for doing race director and Kaine Arkley trailer.

The opening race of the season saw one of the largest fields we’ve had in a while.
We have made a few changes to the structure of the roster this year including a 3 race series at Carrick to start the season followed immediately by Bishopsbourne and the AGM and culminating in the Fingal 50 before we take our first weekend off. The season will finish with a 3 race series at Hagley and the presentation of awards for the 2025 season after the 3rd race.
We have also opted to start at the earlier time of 9am which has been well received based on the entries for this weeks race and for Race 2 next weekend.
While we are on the subject of entries, don’t forget to sign up for Race 2 and 3. If you can sign up early it encourages others to sign up and it helps us to get the preliminary handicaps together ahead of any last minute entries and entries on the day.
This weekend we had a bumper field of 28 riders including Rodney Johnson and Mark Digney, who are both making a return to racing with the club after 12 and 10 years away respectively, Kalem Richardson who was racing for the first time in 3 years and for the first time with NVCC, and Sheri Leslie who was racing for the first time(!).
Sheri set us off at 10 mins to 9, followed by 6 in E grade, 6 in D grade, 6 in C grade, 4 in B grade and 5 in A grade. The bunches were generally well matched and worked together to close down the front markers in near perfect warm and calm racing conditions.
At the end of the first lap, the gaps were coming down across the field. The E grade bunch was reduced to 3 riders as they turned into Oaks road to start the 2nd lap. Tony found himself in difficulty, and was distance by David and Pat before Pat ended up off the side of the road and the 3 were reunited. As the group turned into Pitts Lane spurred on by Pat’s near miss, all of the pursers were now on Oaks Road.
Before Pitt’s Lane, the D grade bunch of Tim, Mark, Melissa, Pete, Julian and Brenden, was caught by the C grade bunch of Simon, Kaine, Dylan, Ricky and Rod. After a fight to get in the wheel, Brenden and Melissa were able to get on and put some distance between them and their bunch mates.
The group turned onto Liffey Road with Tony and Pat in their sights and caught and passed them as they exited Bishopsbourne. A touch of wheels at the back of bunch on led to Brendon and Melissa being dropped and passed by the B grade bunch of Walshy, Gene, Michael, and Phil.
Meanwhile, the A grade bunch of Jimmy, Brinkman, Macca, Nick and Kalem was entering Bishopsbourne Road and overtaking Sheri, who rode exceptionally well in her first race. B grade was quickly closed down and A and B were together before the elastic really started to stretch on the approach to the rise before the descent to the highway overpass.
45 seconds up the road, the C grade bunch had the finish line in their sights and it was clear they weren’t going to be caught today. Kicking clear out of a 3 man sprint for the line, it was Simon Donovan who took the victory and looks to be in fine form early in the season.
Congratulations Simon on a great ride. Right behind him it was Kaine Arkley who has continued to improve from last season and was very close to taking the win today. Dylan taking 3rd place today was Dylan Forbes who also looks to be in a good place after his recent strong performance in the Gilmore Cycling Classic. Next to cross the line was Ricky followed by Rod.
Making it into the split fighting for a place in the top ten, Michael Trusscot managed to get away with the A grade riders and racing for the line it was Nick Kerkham who took 6th place just in front of Paul McKenzie. The top ten was rounded out by Michael, Chris Brinkman and Kalem, each crossing the line a few seconds apart.
Great riding everyone. It was hard just watching it from the car!
Next week we are at Carrick for Race 2 which is 2 laps of the Westwood loop. Head over to EntryBoss now and register 👉🏼 https://entryboss.cc/calendar/nvcc
Please check the roster at https://www.northernvetscc.com.au/roster/ to see when your volunteer duty is coming around. If you can’t make it, please arrange for someone to cover you and let us know in the comments below.
TOP TEN AFTER CARRICK RACE 1/3:
1. Simon Donovan (30)
2. Kaine Arkley (29)
3. Dylan Forbes (28)
4. Ricky Allen (27)
5. Rod Johnson (26)
6. Nick Kerkham (25)
7. Paul McKenzie (24)
8. Michael Truscott (23)
9. Chris Brinkman (22)
10. Kalem Richardson (21)