FINAL MIVA TUESDAY TUESDAY MASSED START EVENTS 120904

ARBUTUS MEADOWS EVENTS 120904

This was the last evening of the season for MIVA massed start races. There were no junior riders tonight as the youth contingent had spent a very strenuous weekend at the Axel Merckx clinic and were enjoying a well-earned rest.

The first senior event was a miss and out – the third one this summer. The pack was more together tonight and all but three stayed together. First to go was Bill McMillan who thought the sprint lap was later and didn't hear the bell either. Next was Russell Berg who is still working on his cycling legs. Next was Shawn Boyd for whom this was the first ezperience ofan elimination race. Then Shepherd Stewart found himself at the back – probably due to a case of few miles while on holiday. Iain Hay was

next off the back – he was not feeling at all well tonight. With only one rider left to lose before the final three man sprint, Ray Wagner was just edged out after being well away from the back during the early laps. At the line, Normon Thibault made a determined effort, just beating Paul Thompson, with Kyle Waring, who has shown a big improvement this season, finishing a close third.

The points criterium that followed was quite exciting to watch, with the points spread among seven different competitors. Paul, Bill and Shep. shared the points in the first couple of sprints but then Normon won the next two, collecting fifteen points in the process. Kyle and Ray also appeared on the score card for the first time. In the last four sprints, Paul returned to his winning ways, collecting nineteen points and the overall win ,with Norm scoring a further six to end up in second place and Ray garnering fourteen of his sixteen point total here and securing third. Kristy Mighton's photos  here.

Thanks to all the riders who supported these Tuesday races through the season, to the youth riders from Courtenay and Nanaimo who showed us some great riding and to their parents who ferried them to the events, to those who helped set up and take down through the year, and a special thanks to the Bau family who made their wonderful new track available for the last few events.