The rain held off this evening although there were ominous rain clouds hovering over the mountains. Eight junior riders showed up, including the Courtenay cohorts. The two Nanaimo MIVA reps. were there too. However, only five seniors arrived, probably because late August is the time when many take holidays.
The youth elimination race saw the less experienced riders called out first.but everyone showed a better understanding of tactics and the pack did not disintegrate as in previous weeks. Mark and James Grant and Alec Stapff contested the final sprint, with James using his skill to take the sprint from Alec.
In the criterium, Mykelti Berg was the first to drop off the pace. She had the strength to stay with the lead pack once she was lapped but once her cornering and pacing skills develop, she will be right up with the other girls. Jane was having a hard evening, with the after-effects of a heavy weekend at the track championships in Victoria taking its toll, and lost contact soon after Mykelti. Ben also slipped back, leaving the fast-moving, five strong bunch to stay together until the last lap, lapping the rest of the field. In the final sprint, Alec used his power and increasing skills to take a clear win from the Grant brothers, with Nanaimo's Brodie Hay five seconds back and Jessica Reynolds, who had done well to stay with the group, a further three seconds back.
The five seniors agreed to do just one event -a thirty lap points race, with sprints every three laps. John Lam immediately went out fast and made the effort to take the first three sprints and the fifteen points; he continued near the head of the field, scoring a second and a further win at the half way point.
Meanwhile, Matt Allardyce, after getting no points in the first sprint, made sure he was scoring in the following sprints,and after the halfway point won the next four sprints, just being edged by Iain Hay in the final dash for the line. Iain had amassed seventeen points, including the ten for last lap, but was a lap down and so dashing dentist Steve Crowley's thirteen points assured him of third place.
Russell Berg was dropped a few laps after the start and eventually finished two laps down but had been in the right place a few times and had collected eleven points, including a third place finish.
All agreed that this was one of their more enjoyable events of the series.
Thanks to Steve Grant and Larry Reynolds for bringing the Courtenay crew down despite the uncertain weather. Thanks also to all who helped to pack up the equipment.
Next week is the final event of the criterium series so we hope to see large fields for both junior and senior events. Don't forget to thank Rob Bau for the use of the great Arbutus circuit.
