Mon April 1^st;        Well if you thought, hill climbing, descending, sprinting, track work was all that you were going to do this trip, you would be sadly mistaken.  Last day my legs were screaming and looking forward to a recovery ride but no!  Peter Zala organises a 30kilometre team pursuit.  Five Teams.  I'm off chopping block with Joseph Sorby, the Slapper and Jay Collet.  Scratch is Chris Jenkins, Robbie Cater, Matthew Lucas and Ben.  Then there are other teams with Mark Murdock, Leanne and Marika.  Trickie Dickie Jenkins, Robbyn and  Amy. Micheal & Thomas Murdoch, and Britney.  The course is as hard as Calga.   It's won by Micheal & Thomas Murdoch, and Britney and second was Trickie Dickie Jenkins, Robbyn and  Amy. The handicapper was close for slowest and fastest with them crossing the line simultaneously but fair play to the winners for putting in a great effort on the last day we all had very tired legs  and for some it was a bridge too far. Or should I say a hill too far! 

After this final effort we all  went for coffees and loads of sweets and chocolates to get or sugar levels up and regain some sanity before the long trip home.  Whilst we were partaking of this feast at HQ mess room, we had the prize giving ceremony.

 The winners of the Italian Pursuit received vouchers totalling $150 from Maroubra Cycles.  The winners of the Team time trial got $100 cash and what did the feature sprint of the weekend get, the famous Dalgetty Dash?  Nothing !!

Here's the second place Team Time Trial sprinting in.  The thorn and the two roses. Tricky Dickie Jenkins, Robyn and Amy.

I would like to thank Mark for the huge effort he put in in arranging this fantastic trip.  I know he had a few sleepless nights during the week before.  I would also like to thank Maroubra Cycles for their kind sponsorship of prizes for some of the events we did as detailed above.  I would also like to thank our JDO, Peter Zala for torturing us the way he did.  I know Mark Murdoch would love to thank him for toughening him up and making him a tougher cyclist by leaving him on the side of the snowy mountains for about an hour.  I would finally like to thank everyone who came down and rode or assisted or both and made the long weekend a fond memory that I am sure we will all look back on with smiles for years to come.

 

-  John Buckton with a little help from the Slapper and photos from Peter Zala