|
Australian
Vets Championships 2007
Geelong/Anglesea - 16th to 19th November 2007
Tania and Meg in the Medals Again!
Three Grampians Vets riders competed
in the 2007 Australian Veteran Cycling Championships,
held in the Geelong/Anglesea area over 4 days, from
Friday 16th to Monday 19th of November.
 |
|
| Tania
Walter |
|
| |
|
Friday time
trials were held in quite hot conditions, with only
a gentle wind. All age groups competed over a fairly
hilly 25km out and back course at Paraparap. Tania
Walter and Meg Parnaby both put in great efforts to
produce gold medal rides, Tania in the 35 – 39
age group and Meg in the 50 – 54 age group.
Tania
was very lucky to stay upright on the final turn, misjudging
her speed and the narrowness of the corner and ending
up in the gravel for a short period of time.
Saturdays road races were held at
the top secret Anglesea Automotive Research Centre.
Finding the place was an accomplishment in itself,
and involved some kilometres of dirt road. Then finding
your way into the heart of it was an experience in
itself!
| |
 |
| |
Meg
Parnaby |
| |
|
Saturday’s weather started
off very still, but the wind gradually picked up
through the day, and there was the odd shower in
the middle of the day.
Tania Walter was the first to
compete in the 35 – 39
age group. The race was held over 57km, around a very
flat 3.2km circuit. That’s 18 rather boring laps,
both for the riders and the spectators. No scope for
hill climbers or to break up the packs, and that resulted
in most of the races just being a procession until
the final sprint.
There were several attacks during
the race to try to break up the field, but riders only
had to find a wheel to hang on, and nobody was dropped.
On the final lap, Tania took off well out from the
line, but Bendigo’s Cindy Magro was too strong
and the easy winner, with Tania coming in second for
a shiny silver medal.
 |
|
| Tony
Lloyd |
|
| |
|
Meg Parnaby competed next on
the same 3.2km circuit, over a meagre 35km course.
Once again, the short distance and flat circuit resulted
in a procession until the finish, which didn’t
suit Meg at all. Not being much of a sprinter, she
was outclassed in the final lunge for the line, but
came in third for a bronze medal.
Tony Lloyd then fronted up on the outer 4.2km circuit,
for a 71km race. This circuit had several small inclines,
but nothing of much significance, so favoured the stronger
more powerful riders. This race was more interesting
with attacks starting on the first lap. This group
of riders was soon brought back, but a short time later,
another two groups of two riders got away and stayed
away for much of the race. However, they were caught
in the closing stages, only to have several more riders
break clear to take out the race.
Tony rode well and was happy with his performance, and
finished with the main pack. Well done Tony.
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tania
in action |
Meg
in action |
Tony
in action |
| |
|
|
Congratulations to Tania, Meg and
Tony for a great weekends riding and results. |
