Culling, from Ararat, was expected to ride well and indeed made a clean sweep of the W17 events. In the Bakers Brew 12 lap motorpace, she was well positioned just behind the motorcycle as it left the track with two and a half laps left. Culling stayed just in front of Brunswick’s Elizabeth Nuspan at the finish. Starting from scratch position in the six lap AME handicap, the Ararat teenager kept a steady pace and reached the front in the fifth lap. Off scratch again in the Gason six lap wheelrace, she chased hard to catch Sarah Bateson halfway into the bell lap, reaching the finish with a 30 metre lead. Culling’s final event was the David O Jones eight lap scratch race. That featured frequent changes to the lead position, then a late attack by Elizabeth Nuspan. Although Culling responded and breezed past for a fourth victory - an excellent prelude to her racing in Tasmania next week.

The carnival’s junior races featured local riders Pippa and Minda Denham in under nine, and Stawell’s Natalie Wemyss in J13. Pippa had a great coup in the Bulte Hardware 750 metre wheelrace, claiming victory from a midfield start. Murray Culling also represented Ararat in the JM15 division.

The Denhams of Horsham, racing for the Ararat club, did well in J9. Pippa was second in First National Real Estate 500 metre handicap, and Minda third. Pippa won the Bulte Hardware 750 metre wheelrace and Minda was third in the Dollar Curtains 750 metre scratch race. In J13, local rider Natalie Wemyss gained second place in the Shear Art six lap scratch race.

The second session was the Victorian Scratch Race championships in under 19 and Elite divisions. Ararat’s Jordie Argall was leading in the JM19 40 lap race with Connor Sens of Bendigo in the 10th lap. However the pair were pulled back by the main group and an even pace was maintained for another 20 laps, until Tom McFarlane of the Leongatha club assumed the lead with two to go. 

McFarlane hung on to win with Cameron Murphy and Argall just behind in second and third. The Elite Mens 60 lap race featured a strong field that kept a steady pace. The number of riders reduced from 10 to four with six laps remaining. Stawell’s Todd Satchell attacked with two laps to go but Evan and Caiden Hull countered, bringing up first and second with Satchell third.

Horsham’s Matt Denham, a regular at the Ararat track, was at the front in the Ararat Dental 20 lap motorpace with two laps left and clung on to take first with Dean McNamara second and Matthew Opperman third.

Jordie Argall made it past the first heat of the KFC 1500 metre handicap, as did Matt Denham and Luke Pretlove. Argall started from 130 metres in the field of 14 riders, Denham seized the lead in the second lap while Pretlove and Argall remained back in the mid field. Dean McNamara of Bendigo passed Denham as the bell sounded but finished second when passed in turn by Mt Gambier’s Sean Angus; not far behind were Pretlove in third and Argall fourth.

Lauretta Hanson from the Macedon Ranges club, dominated in the elite women’s event, and the field of six riders was gratifying after 2014 when Hanson was sole competitor and raced with the elite men. She took the 40 lap Victorian Scratch race championship from Melbourne Cycling League’s Chloe Baggs. It was another close finish between winner Hanson and eventual runner up Baggs in the Bendigo Bank wheelrace final. The Ararat Medical Centre 1500 metre handicap went to Charlotte Thompson from Echuca, the strongest W19 rider of the day, edging out Chloe Baggs in a photo finish with Hanson coming third.

The first seven finishers of each of two heats contested the Ararat Business Houses 2000 metre wheelrace. Included in the field were the Hull brothers, Greg Hogan, Todd Satchell, and Tom McFarlane. McFarlane started at scratch and Evan Hull at 15 metres, riding together and catching the main group at the halfway point. Dean McNamara and Peter Sens had started from the front mark, and Greg Hogan, sponsored by Fosters Mensland and Ararat Subway, now moved forward from midfield to head off the leaders.

Hogan was at the front as the bell lap started but was passed by Todd Satchell. The battle between the two was fierce with Satchell just ahead down the final straight. Right on the finish line Hogan lurched forward with the front wheel momentarily airborne. The result was very close, but decided on the photo in Hogan’s favour. Satchell (David O. Jones Mitre 10 and Central Salon) took second and Caiden Hull (Ararat Dental Clinic) claimed third place. For Hogan it was an amazing hat trick, having won twice in 2014, and the only recorded third time winner of the Business Houses wheelrace. 

The 50 lap David Blackie Memorial Aces scratch race started with a field of 18 riders. The line was stretched and the pace generally hard with a couple of breakaway attempts quickly reeled in by the group. At the halfway point, 10 riders had dropped out, including Ararat’s Luke Pretlove, Greg Hogan, Jordie Argall, and also Matt Denham. Among those remaining were 2014 victor Evan Hull, his brother Caiden, Todd Satchell, and 2014 third Tom McFarlane. With 16 laps left there were six riders, and for another 11 laps they maintained a strong but steady pace, with none daring to chance an attack – a contrast with the late surprise moves of the last four Aces events.

In the 49th lap it was all or nothing for Dean McNamara, his attempted breakaway unleashing a frantic dash from behind. As the bell lap ran out the battle was between Todd Satchell and Evan Hull. Satchell gave it everything, surely bent upon redressing the narrow wheelrace result. However, the gaze of Hull was unwaveringly locked ahead upon the finish line and he prevailed for a second Aces title with Caiden Hull finishing third and McFarlane fourth.

Ararat Cycling Club would like to express its gratitude of the support provided by Cyclesport officials, St John Ambulance and the loyal business sponsors for their contribution towards the carnival.