CAMERON CROSS

RACE REPORT for Cross on the Rock #5

By Wendy Simms

The Cameron Cross race Sunday could not possibly have been more different than the Children of the Corn Cross at Sluggett Farm the day before. (See earlier story)

Blue sky. Sun shining. Course weaving through the manicured grounds of the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.

The only thing reminiscent of Saturday was the heavy legs from the effort the day before (or the shame of abandoning the race – you know who you are).

The IRC crew had done a great job of setting up the event. The smell of traditional Belgium waffles greeted the racers as they registered, the 2.5km course wound up and down and around the side of the grassy hill and there was post race chili for all involved.

Beginners

Only a few brave Beginners made the return trip for Sunday’s race. Perhaps the mud at Sluggett Farm had scared them away ….

Brent Chan (PIH) took the opportunity to lead the race from start to finish. He was pushed from behind, not by the other beginner men but by the beginner women.

All three of the women finished before another XY was in sight. The Tansley twins, coaxed into racing by the Rabien regulars swept the top two spots with their fresh legs.

Rowena Tansley (Penticton Cycling Association) took first place and Caroline Tansley from Victoria rolled in with the exact same smile in a déjà vue moment for second place.

Monica Birch from Ladysmith was happy with third place after her efforts in the mud wrestling event the day before.

The rest of the beginner men’s field finished up unashamed at being “bloused” by such a good looking field.

Ian Linseth from Victoria was second and John Dower third. It was a battle of the 12-year-olds for the primes as Chris MacLeod (IRC) won the 22min prime and Brodie Hay (Healthy Habits) won the Last not Lapped prime.

Intermediate

Once again the Intermediate race was the biggest and most competitive race of the day.

Twenty-nine racers started and spectators were treated to a variety of intense 3-4 up battles throughout the race.

Kevin Knock (Everti) took it out fast stringing out the field while clocking a 6:17 lap 1.

Someone might want to mention to him that our primes are of the non-traditional 22minute kind. The effort would prove deadly to Knock as the detonation was massive but he kept the crowd cheering as he bunny-hopped over the barriers.

But it was Roland Rabien (Tripleshot) that had the bit between his teeth in front of the hometown crowd. He looked rabid for the win as he took over the lead, frothing at the mouth for his first win. He stayed focused lap after lap.

Geoff Pendrel (OBB) chased the entire race but could not close in on the rabid Rabien and had to settle for second. Meanwhile, vegan Dave Shishkoff (Organic Athlete) must have been slipped some beef in his recovery drink as he shocked the crowd making his way up to the meat of the race with regular front pack rider Guy Gensey (Russ Hayes) and powerhouse rider Matt Dilay (IRC) .

The crowds went wild. However it was 16-year-old Michael Brinton from Powell River that snuck in and stole the last podium position.

22min prime Regan Price

Last not lapped Derek Steel

Master/Open women

The Master/Open women race looked initially to be a replay of the day before.

Brad Collins (Sugoi) took it out hard and strung out the field with a 6:05 lap 1 but today he looked strong enough to make it stick.

Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain) chewed up the men’s field almost immediately, closing in on Collins despite a 30-second handicap. But lap after lap Collins kept Sydor at bay by 5-15 seconds.

However disaster struck for Collins on the last lap when he disappeared off the grid with a mechanical and was spotted running the downhill.

This allowed Sydor to blouse the entire master field yet again easily taking the $150 cash prize from Action Motorcycles for the weekend.

Collins’ tragedy also opened the door for Dave Holden (Procity Racing) to snatch the victory in the Master category and long-time Cross on the Rocks sponsor Jim Pearson (Aviawest) to take second. Collins hung on for third despite his bad luck.

Despite the solid racing at the front of the Masters’ race, spectators were

more interested in the ding dong battle between Barry Rempel (OBB) and birthday boy Jamie Emery (Pro City Cycles).

Rempel would not go easy on his buddy and took him in the finishing stretch to steal one of the last top 10 spots.

Mical Dyck (Trek Toronton/Terrascape) was the uncontested bridesmaid again, securing her the $100 cash prize from Action Motorcycles for the weekend.

The third place spot however was a heated battle between Chelsea Bilsarrow (Local Ride) and Jen Erlendson (Organic Athlete). Lap after lap Erlendson stuck to the wheel of Bilsbarrow. It wasn’t until the last lap that Bilsbarrow could shake her loose and rolled in third, securing her the $50 cash prize from Action Motorcycles for the weekend over Glenowyn Carlson (Team Alliance).

22min Paul Brend

Last not lapped Derek Tripp

Expert

The final race of the day was much more technical for the experts as the previous races had opened up the grass field and corners were slick. There was mud of the viscous kind to deal with.

Tyler Trace (Trek) looked to want a pair of aces for the weekend as he took the early lead but Craig Richey (Blue Competition Cycles) had other plans.

Richey quickly overtook Trace and dropped him, gaining seconds every lap to win by a over a minute. Trace hung on for second while Rob Britton (Trek Procity) rode a steady race for third.

Continuing his streak of bad luck, Steve Bachop (IRC), a DNF after demolishing his derailleur, was heard stating that “he will only be racing a singlespeed from now on.”

22min prime Dave Huntley

Last not lapped Mat Hewitt (only because Norm gave him a bracelet that said “HARDEN THE F**K UP” on the start line.