MIVA BOXWOOD CRITERIUM 11/09/06
Boxwood Circuit, September 6th.2011 Tonight was the final criterium of the season and at least twenty riders were expected, as some of the top positions in the series were still not settled. However, Only seven men, two women and lone youth, Brodie Hay lined up. After the two neutralised laps, the bunch stayed together for the next three laps, but, as the pace picked up, Brodie, mother Charlene and Charlene Stewart drifted off the back to engage in their own contest.
With nine laps gone, the key move in the race occurred as Rob Russell and CCVC's Ray Wagner broke away from the cruising pack and proceeded to gain five to ten seconds per lap, doing a steady 42kph. Despite the carrot of a couple of intermediate primes, the pack made no impression on the speeding duo and, with nine laps to go, Rob and Ray lapped the bunch and continued to gain more time. Master F rider,Dave Kenny, who had been lapped just before the half way point in the race, impressed the rest of the field by managing to stay with them for the remainder of the event .
At the finish, Wagner looked like winning the sprint but was just pipped at the post by Russell and had to be content with second place. The sprint for third was taken by Iain Hay, who put the boots to Rob Bau and Shepherd Stewart.
In the women's event, the two Charlenes were pretty evenly-matched but Ms. Hay was better at drafting the men as they caught the ladies and gradually made up a lap on Ms, Stewart.
Lone youth Brodie Hay alternated between hanging onto the men and then easing up but finished strongly, albeit a few laps down.
Thanks to Kit McCaffery for registration and lap board and bell, and to Kyle Waring for course set up (after he had to return home for the forgotten cones!) and take down.