Tamworth Mountain Bikers: Twilight Race Series round three

It was a busy night for race organisers with some different race loops bunted up for the different grades and race timer Elsie McKenzie manning the race pick up and timing for Dirtmasters (thanks Shannon Sipple for the manual back up) almost simultaneously.

Our new race mat timing system has been an awesome addition to twilight racing and kudos to Ben Marsh for mastering the IT set up and collation.

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Dirtmasters and Gravity Groms were still carving it up on the Three Piggies trail this week. The three loop options giving riders the opportunity to be creative with the track design and getting to choose their own favourite combination.

Downright winners for having the most fun would have to be the three Gravity Groms who set up a crit track on piggy one and just kept going around and around and around. Thanks to NIAS athlete Harrison Crowley for manning the three piggies bridge to make sure all got over safely.

As for the adults, Elite and A Grade were grateful they only had to climb half way up Central Mountain this week but there were still flushed and dripping dazed race faces on the finish line. Eddie Willis and Lachie Butters were burning up some excess energy with their last hit out before heading away to race with the roadies at nationals over the weekend. Out of the seven racers Willis and Butters took the number one and two position and Justin Roberts in third.

A graders were on the same race loop and most got around through timing for a second loop of the 20-odd minute laps (unless you were as clever as Laurie Willis, Alyssa Rogan, Craig Roberts and Lachie Marsh that is who timed their race to perfection to avoid the extra lap). Chris Shaw came first and old nemeses Ross Aylwin and Marty Siddons fought it out for second and third. Rogan managed to stay with Laurie Willis for the first half of the race before Willis pulled away for a convincing 2.5 minute lead.

There were a similar number of racers in B grade (nine riders) and even on a different track riders were pulling similar times of 19-21 minutes. Lisa Roberts got maximum mileage out of her entry fee and worked harder than any other racer with a total of one hour, one minute race time. New rider Theo Van Luenen came first, young Ben Shaw second and Nick Reid in third in the men and Lisa Roberts first in the women.

C grade is still the place to party with 18 riders on the start line. A bit of family rivalry had the Blair boys vying for first with your NIAS rider Andy outdoing dad Robbie by one second on the line. Congratulations to Robbie for keeping up with the young speed demon. Hayden Miller came in third.

And now to the breaking news of the week. Yes, we finally got Mel Siddons out from behind the timing desk and on a bike. So, so, so happy to see you on track Mel. Elesa Crowley, Ethan Riley and Mel enjoyed the scenic afternoon bush on their rec ride.

With chicken, chips and salad back on the night time menu riders were able to fill empty tanks while sharing bike tails before the failing light sent everyone home ready for a lie down.

Thanks to all our riders and volunteers for a fun hump day. See you next Wednesday.