Blackwell Blasts onto the Scene

Photos courtesy of Greg Long

The women’s C bunch rolled away for a cruisy first two laps, but it wasn’t long before some itchy legs got the better of some and the attacks started coming from the likes of Merryn Steer and Susannah Hiron. The peloton reacted with the pace setters Sarah Goodwin, Rowena Headlam and Shalan Bray controlling the breaks rather than reeling them back in instantly. Kylie Biilmann launched on the counter and looked threatening, but two laps alone in the cross winds and she found herself back in the pack.

The definitive move came from Helene Blackwell who blasted down the outside of the straight with three laps to go and quickly found herself with a comfortable lead. The chasers sensed a real threat and immediately ramped up the pace to set up a scorching race finale. Donna Smith, Maddy Marshal, Rowena Headlam, Kate Vandenbugh and a still strong Susannah left their race mates behind, forming a well organised chase line. The final lap saw Kate Vandenburgh jump and attempt to bridge to Helene, and with 500m to go she looked a chance. But Helene kicked again to maintain her gap and roll through the line for a maiden victory, followed several seconds later by a gasping Kate. Donna took the sprint for third followed by the rest of the now very strung out WC field.
Again, congratulations to all who came and had a race in round two – it was certainly an entertaining event to watch from the sidelines. It was great to see the confidence increasing as the bunch kept tight, and that those riders who were dropped early in week one held the wheels this time to stick with the bunch. Each week is a learning experience and each round will see improvements.

1. Helene Blackwell
2. Kate Vandenburgh
3. Donna Smith
4. Rowena Headlam
5. Susannah Hiron
6. Maddy Marshall
7. Merryn Steer
8. Christine Coogan
9. Kate Molineaux
10. Sarah Goodwin
11. Kylie Biilmann
12. Elizabeth Lowe
13. Emily Clark
14. Carol Paice
15. Shalan Bray
16. Megan Mackenzie
17. Michelle Kennedy
18. Christine Palmer
19. Helen King

Report by Simon Dwyer

All photos courtesy of Greg Long Photography

http://www.greglong.photostockplus.com/