THIS Saturday marks the forty-fourth staging of the Ararat Cycling Club’s track carnival.
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This is well in advance of track carnivals in several rural centres scheduled for the Christmas-New Year period. It is sure to attract strong competitive fields, with Victorian State scratch championship events in several divisions serving as qualifying heats for selection in the Australian national championships. Eighty-five cyclists have entered the carnival, from across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
Ararat’s Alice Culling, having risen to the upper ranks of Victorian women’s track cyclists, will compete in the under 17 age group and her brother Murray in under 15.
Both Alice Culling and Jordie Argall have had great results in the Ararat carnival, and are certain to feature again. Ararat’s Lucas Hamilton, a past winner of the David Blackie Aces scratch race, is back in training and tipped to compete.
Members of the Malaysian national team, in preparation for the 2016 Olympics, were also due to take part as they did two years ago. However, they are now heading to New Zealand for the track cycling World Cup.
Stawell-Great Western club’s Natalie Wemyss is showing excellent form and Alan and Todd Satchell have always featured with the top senior riders. The carnival runs from lunchtime to 9pm and spectators are welcome.
Club racing continued last Friday with mixed junior events. Max Jenkinson had the front mark in the handicap races. Murray Culling came from scratch in the 500 metre race, gaining the lead and he was followed by Natalie Wemyss.
Meanwhile in the three lap race, Jenkinson was caught in bell lap by Wemyss and Alex Van Opstal working together with the latter finishing in first.
Murray Culling had to close a one lap start granted to Wemyss and Jenkinson in the 10 lap scratch race.
In the end, Wemyss was just a few metres out of reach and she went on to claim the honours. Culling came in second and Jenkinson third. Jenkinson hung onto the lead in the final three-lap handicap, but was just passed on the line by Lara Van Opstal.