ARARAT - The Ararat Cycling Club held its annual criterium last Saturday around the Gason's block, with a good number of riders presenting for the competition.

The first race away was the D grade , contesting a three lap handicap over three laps.

Dylan Woods was the frontmarker off one minute and 45 seconds, followed by Calder Richards off 40 seconds, Alice Culling off 30 seconds and Lilly Hamilton off scratch.

The race was closely contested and in a rush to the finish line, the handicapper proved very good at his job, the finishing order not changing from the start.

Lilly Hamilton rode the fastest time of six minutes and 51 seconds.

In the five lap C grade race, new riders James Carthew split the brother-sister combination of Zoe and Luke Nicholson for second place.

Zoe rode the fastest time of nine minutes and 44 seconds, with all races from C grade up seeing all riders starting from scratch.

In B grade 11 riders raced each other for 20 minutes and two laps.

From the start Greg Hogan, Chris Fresle, Chris Carthew, Les Connarty and Brian Howlett took turns at the front, follwed by Tony Davey and the four girls - Linda Howlett, Alice Fresle, Olivia Nicholson and Darcie Hatswell.

Bringing up the rear was the ever reliable, and ever present Denny Coone.

Getting towards the end of time the lead bunch had dropped Howlett and Connarty, while Linda Howlett and Alice Fresle had slipped ahead of their group.

The sprint to the line saw Greg Hogan the winner, just ahead of Chris Carthew and Chrise Fresle with Les Connarty and Brian Howlett further behind.

In a race of the girls Linda Howlett just outsprinted her younger rival Alice Fresle to be the first lady home.

The A grade race comprised eight riders over a 30 minutes and two lap race.

Right from the beginning lap it was Nathan Gardiner and Aodhan Kelly in control, these two swapping places for the majority of the race before on the second last lap Gardiner accelerated away to a convincing win over Kelly.

The next four riders had a race of their own over the distance, Hamish Kelly, Wayne Lang and Luke and Jesse Rudolph battling for positions all the way around with only the sprint to the finish seperating the bunch.

In the wash-up it was Jesse Rudolph who took third from Lang, Kelly and Luke Rudolph.

The final two riders were Ian Notting and Eric Van Opstal.

This week's racing is at the Armstrong circuit, commencing at 2.00pm.

- In other cycling news several riders recently contested the Eildon Junior Tour, with some terrific results for the Ararat riders.

Olivia Nicholson was first overall in the under 15 girls' section, while younger sister Zoe was second in the under 13 girls.

The dynamic duo of Evan Hull and Tom Hamilton also continued their good form in the under 15 boys' section, with second and fourth place respectively.

Other Results

Under 11 boys: Charles Fresle 6th; Under 15 boys B: Chris Fresle 7th; Under 17 girls: Alice Fresle 5th; Under 17 boys: Jesse Rudolph 5th.

Results for Port Fairy - Support Criterium for 100km Championships

Under 15 girls: Darcie Hatswell 1st; Under 17 boys: Greg Hogan 1st.