ARBUTUS MEADOWS 50 LAP POINTS CRITERIUM

This was the first event this season on the 650 metre Arbutus Circuit.The 18 starters set off on the first of 2 neutral laps but, before the end of the first lap there was a crash and so the race was restarted. Unfortunately, Jessica Reynolds had to retire injured but Rob Bau, who was also involved was able to continue. Within 2 laps, Nick Kupiak (Broad Steet Bikes) and Brodie Hay (Dr. Walker) had gapped the field and these two took top points for the first of the nine sprints, with Mark Wieler (Arrowsmith) leading the bunch for the remaining points. Then Nick,put the hammer down, dropped Brodie, and proceeded to lap the lead bunch of 7 riders three times by race end, taking top points in all the remaining sprints. This group in turn dropped the rest of the riders and shared all remaining points. With 13 laps left, Ray Wagner (CVCC) tried to follow Kupiak and for two laps managed to hang on but Nick proved to be too strong and so Ray spent the Remaining 10 laps on his own, picking up 6 more points in the process. As only 6 riders picked up points, the rest of the finishing order was decided by the final sprint and then by the order of multi-lapped riders on the course. Thanks to Iain Hay for helping with lap board and spotting. (points)  series points 1 Nick Kupiak Broad Street Cycles (32) 12 2 Ray Wagner Comox Valley C.C. (15) 10 3 Mark Wieler Arrowsmith Bikes(9) 9 4 Brodie Hay Dr. Walker (6) 8 5 Janna Gillick Cowichan Cycles (3)  12 W 6 Sean De Pol MIVA (1) 7 7 Aaron Milan Cowichan Valley C.C. 6 8 Mike Sevcov Cowichan Valley C.C. 5 9 Doug Merrick Cowichan Valley C.C. 4 10 Mike McCarney MIVA 3 11 Bruce Perry MIVA 2 12 Phil Birrer MIVA 2 13 Mike Gill MIVA 2 14 Rob Bau MIVA 2 15 Evan Luksay  Trail Bicycles 12 (youth) 16 Wade Luksay Trail Bicycles 2 DNF Jessica Reynolds Dr. Walker 2 (crash) DNF Bill McMillan MIVA 1 DNF Patrick Burnham MIVA 1