Robinson race circuit thumbs up

A new race circuit around the roads of Robinson was given a thumbs up by participants in Albany Cycle Club’s kermesse race last Saturday afternoon.

The 5.2km course has a flat start on Roberts Road, left turn into curvy Robinson Road, left again on to Racecourse Road for a quick launch into a deceptive rise before a final sprint back along Roberts Road.

Super-vet Vic Gladish was a welcome return to the B-grade field and demonstrated his well-known work ethic to pull turns with Jess Waldron, Jim Lie and Julie Passmore for the first two of five laps.

Waldron stayed fresh despite long spells on the front while Lie did more than his share up every rise.

Lie tried to shake his rivals with a kick on the final ascent up Racecourse Road but Waldron and Passmore hung tight.

Waldron took the lead out of the final corner and sprinted to win the B-grade with Lie hot on her heels for second.

In A-grade, Beau LeFort made an early attack on the first of seven laps.

Riley Heslop and Craig Wiggins left the rest of the pack behind on lap two but LeFort was still in front heading into the last lap.

Wiggins finally bridged the gap and shot past LeFort to be clear winner of the A-grade race, followed by LeFort and Heslop.

After cruising into the final corner some time later Brent Schoof, Michael Gardiner and Peter Wilshaw went head to head for the surprise sprint of the day.

Schoof looked to have fourth in the bag but Gardiner continued to make ground and set up a nailbiting finish.

With a last-ditch push Schoof held on for fourth.

Albany Cycle Club’s next event will be a kermesse on the Elleker course on March 15.