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Thanks to our Commissaires, Chief Commissaire, Ken Martin.  Assistine Commissaires Brian West, Jeff Don and Joanne Buckton..  Thanks to the Event Co-ordinator on the day, Richard Jenkins.  Thanks to Tom Skulander, State Manager of Cycling NSW who assisted as "Video Ref" on a couple of close calls.  Thanks to State Handicapper Bruce Mills for all his help with the handicaps.  Thanks to Bruce and Margaret for attending and assisting on the day.  Thanks to Alan Sumner who assisted with all the Penny Farthing bikes.  Thanks to Janelle Lindsay who did an absolutely fabulous job on the PA system all day. Thanks to Helen & Fred Vella who manned the canteen all day.  Thanks to Anna Fortuna who did her usual magnificent job on the BBQ.  Thanks to all the other workers on the day too numerous to mention who helped with the registration tent, marshaling, etc etc. Thanks to Roy Magil and his staff of the St John Ambulance. 

What an amazing race this was.  One hundred and twenty riders competed in the huge 30km handicap with riders split over eight groups .  This is the most riders that I have ever seen on the track at one time. 

The groups were spaced with the "GO" group (pictured above) going off first and the "Scratch" group going off 3 and a half minutes later.  Each of the intermediately groups went off at 30 second intervals.  Above photo shows Mark Murdoch driving the bunch with Jamie Guinan tucked in behind him.  Cornering hard on the inside is Ron Peak, a former President of the Randwick Botany Cycling Club.

After enduring constant taunts by team FRF, I came around big Rocky who looked as though he was going to grind his front teeth away he was straining so hard.  I hope it's not catching, I've got a bit of a snarl up myself.  Frank Fortuna sat behind giving Rocky instructions.  "Change down Rocky"  "Chase him Rocky" etc etc.  The one you don't want to hear is "Stop Rocky"  Just ask Richard Jenkins about that one.  But back to the race.

 The large field started to come together mid-race.    Randwick Botany Club President John Buckton and FRF boss  Frank Fortuna (St George/FRF Couriers) made a break about lap 6 but looked around to see the scratch bunch had caught the bunch that they had escaped from.  There was a quick back off and a last drink from the bidden before the charging peleton swamped them once again.  (paragraph by Tony Horneman)

 Half the field remained to fight out the closing stages, clocking over 50kmh down the straight assisted by a northerly breeze. 

Above RBCC's Matt Lucas drives the bunch.  The strain is telling on the FRF Team Captain as he opens his jersey almost fully open in an attempt to cool down in the very hot conditions.  (Not good example for the team, Frank)

It was good to see Brendan Ingram back after a substantial break.  He and new RBCC member, Karl Bellamy worked well together.

Gaps started to show on the closing laps.

By the Bell lap there were approximately 10 riders away.  RBCC's Paddy Jones was working well for Matt Lucas performing the role of "Domestique".  Unfortunately East's John Kenny was also benefiting from these tactics and was sitting comfortably on the back of the break.  Above John Kelly looks around to ascertain the break on the peleton.

In the end it was close.  "Very Close".  Down to the throw in fact.  The Commissaire's had to go to the video referee. I looked on whilst State Manager of Cycling NSW, Tom Skulander, examined the digital video footage frame by frame and this was the result.  (The following is a video still supplied by Tom)

Sorry Matty, he got you by a tyre.  Congratulations to John Kenny for a fine sprint

In the end the judges declared John Kenny (Eastern Suburbs) winner, only centimeters ahead of Matthew Lucas (Randwick Botany).  Jerzy Sowa (Poland), Roland Lang (Waratah Veterans), Paul Hanley (Canberra) filled the minor placings. 

Waratah Veteran Cyclists Club