Craig wins Club Championship at Beauie

The question was asked by Luke at work on Saturday "Do you think you can win? You haven't raced much this year have you?"

This question was still in my head when I turned up to race at Beaumont Road, Mount Kuring-Gai. Our club championships are held annually and are graded according to age. If you didn't know I'm over 40 so into the"Old Farts" bunch I went.

This years race held special significance as we had a minute silence for one of our club members who was cruely taken by cancer. Robert Hodgson was only young but a promising career in cycling was to be expected. Unfortunatly this was not to be as he was recently diagnosed with cancer of the spine and fought bravely.

The scene was set for the race and the goal was to gain as many points as possible from 3 intermediate sprints and big points given for the sprint finish. Yours truly managed a fourth for the first sprint(out of the points). Then I managed to win the next for full points. The last intermediate sprint I scored 2nd for more points. In the mean time another rider had scored more points than myself and we were heading for a show down going into the final sprint finish. Fortune was shining on myself as we hit the last corner. I heard my main rival shout a swear word and I noticed hit rear tyre looking a little deflated. He had a flat on the last lap and was now out of the race. This left myself and Dan to contest as we both had scored well during the race.

Coming into the last sprint I knew I had to score well to get over Dan. I had left myself alot of work to do as I was a long way back coming into the sprint. As we closed in on the line I pushed past a number of riders but Dan was still dangling of the front. Dan just got the better of me and I picked up 2nd best points. I didn't know if I had got the points or not and waited patiently for the results. Phil the cycling official looked at me and said "You won" by 1 point!

And so I was true I had managed to win the Club Championship for the Masters Category!

I guess the answer to Luke's question is Yes!