ARARAT - Ararat Cycling Club's Friday night meeting at the velodrome went off without a hitch after impeccable timing allowed riders to dodge incoming wet weather.
All grades contested a scratch race for a `heart starter', two handicaps and a motorpace to finish, with the exception of the E grade riders who finished the night with a scratch event.
Of the five competitors in E grade, all received one or more placings.
Lara Argall was the stand-out, securing three wins and a second, however finishes were close in every event.
Murray Culling ensured Argall did not claim a clean sweep by taking out the first handicap on the line.
Caitlyn Nicholson, Jeziash Woods and Alex Van Opstal were the other riders to place on the night.
D grade started the night with a strong field of seven riders.
In two exciting displays of racing, the entire field finished as one in both the handicap events.
Calder Richards gained a second and a first in the two races, while Luke Nicholson also rode his way to a win.
Gemma Hughes, Jordie Argall and opening scratch race winner Lily Hamilton rounded out the placings.
The final D grade race was an eight-lap motorpace, an event which some riders had never competed in before.
In a break-away win, Nicholson took top honours from Argall and Hamilton.
The D grade competitors are expected to look forward to motorpace events once they become more familiar with the style of racing.
Seven of the 10 riders in C grade shared in the placings but with a number of close finishes, the handicaps were anyone's game.
Magnus Baker, Lucas Hamilton and Meg Harrington ruled in the scratch events but the handicaps produced completely different results and several nail-biting finishes.
Jasmine Chick scored her first win on the velodrome after a top ride to finish ahead of Elizabeth Baker and Brittanie Argall.
The second handicap was just as exciting as the first, and placed Zoe Nicholson in first, ahead of Baker and Argall.
No B grade riders entered last Friday's velodrome meeting due to other commitments, however three A grade riders kept the crowd entertained.
Finishes were decided by no more than three metres and saw Luke Pretlove walk away with a first, two seconds and a third, while Greg Hogan secured a first, a second and two thirds.
Jesse Rudolph fared the best of the three riders and took home two firsts, a second and a third.
Tonight's meeting will commence at 7pm. Riders are to arrive by 6.45pm.
The meeting will consist of scratch races, secret handicaps, team sprints, a lap dash, an individual pursuit and a sprint derby.