There was a record breaking 180 starters for the 89th Bendigo Community Bank Collie to Donnybrook and return cycle race on Saturday.
This was by far the biggest field in a Western Australian road race for several years.
The weather smiled on this historic event with a fantastic day for racing; clear skies with a temperature around the low twenties and very little wind.
With such good conditions and the strength of the back markers it was shaping to be a great day of racing.
Limit had 30 minutes on scratch, a hard but not impossible task.
The limit bunch started well, staying together through the hills out to Mumballup, however the same could not be said for the 26 minute and 23 minute bunches who struggled to stay together, losing riders through the hills.
At the 40 km mark limit was down ten riders but they were working well as a group and maintaining a good pace. A handy lead had been established with the chase groups struggling but starting to regroup.
The interesting development at that point was the 13 minute bunch had lost a small amount of time to their chase group the 11 minute bunch, who in turn had the 8 minute group hot on their tail about 1 minute down.
The 5 minute bunch went through without making time, chopping block and scratch had come together at this stage but only managed to make about 6 minutes on the limit group.
Limit continued to ride well together with Andrew Brown being first into Donnybrook.
At the 65 km point limit had a two and half minute lead over a 60 strong chasing bunch. They would maintain that lead until Mumballup.
The first climb up to Glenn Mervyn dam is when the race really starts. The chase group had lost numbers at the top but they had caught the limit bunch who had put up a great fight but it was all over for them.
The lead bunch of around 40 riders was made up of riders from the 20 minute group back to the 8 minute group. This group of riders would dwindle to about half that number over the next two climbs which included “Heartbreak” (Mt Bonser) and Lyalls Mill Hill. However, they could not afford to back off as the back markers led by the powerful Travis Meyer had decided to put the hammer down and chase the race record.
The finish came down to a bunch sprint with young Bunbury rider Nicholas Lawler (13 minutes) winning from Luke Ellis (8 minutes) and Connor Sherwin (8 minutes) in third place.
Spectators did not have to wait long before a large back markers bunch rounded the Miners’ Institute corner at high speed.
The large crowd that had gathered for the finish were given a display of power from Travis Meyer who led from the front to easily accelerate away from the bunch and take fastest time honours.
Myers’ time of 2 hours 22 minutes 18 seconds was only 25 seconds outside the race record set by Ben Godridge in 1998.
The winner, Nicholas Lawler also picked up the Colin Rossiter award for the first rider under 23 years and the Darren Strudwick Memorial trophy.
The first female over the line was Emily McRedmond and the youngest rider to finish was Alex Rendell.
The under 17 men’s event came down to a photo finish between Craig Wiggins and Connor Lambert, two riders of the future, with Craig Wiggins taking the win by the smallest of margins.
Third place went to Lewis McCrea. The under 17 women’s race went to Jade Haines with Jessica Lawler in second place.
The McDonalds “Fit for Life Ride” was very well supported with almost seventy entrants making a great sight as they were sent on their way.
This event also included the Primary Schools Challenge with Collie Catholic College having the first four rider’s home and winning the shield for the second successive year.
Results:
1st - Nicholas Lawler 2hrs 32min 47sec
2nd - Luke Ellis
3rd - Michael Jacobsen
4th - Connor Sherwin
Fastest Time
Travis Meyer 2hrs 22min 18sec
1st Female - Emily McRedmond
U/17 Male 56km sponsored by Prime Industrial Supplies
1st – Craig Wiggins
2nd – Connor Lambert
3rd – Lewis McCrea
U/17 Female 56km sponsored by Prime Industrial Supplies
1st – Jade Haines
2nd – Jessica Lawler
Open Support 56km sponsored by Prime Industrial Supplies
1st – Tony Doherty
2nd – Garrod Delfs
3rd – Lyndon Miles
Results - Over 50’s Support 56km sponsored by Prime Industrial Supplies
1st – Michael Bonner
2nd – Peter Mills
3rd – Alan Thomas
