Belated Myrtleford Results - 12th November

[Guest Sir Lunchalot]

Time I put on the record the Myrtleford results.

 

The format was a 14 heat match with everyone scheduled with four rides. No tacticals, no replacements once the riders were at the tapes, tapes offenders would start 20 metres back, only replacements allowed would be in the case of injury.

 

The Vic seniors were the Brumbies (white horse head on a blue background), the Vic evolutions were the Stars (red star on a purple background) and the NSW evolutions were the Bulls (red bull on a white background). No emblem on the NSW seniors racejackets and I'm not sure what they were called. There are some team photos on http://www.ssrav.org.au/ follow the link "latest news"

 

Scores

 

Moderns

 

Vic = 50

Ashley Jones 3,2',2,3 = 10+1

Karlis Ezergailis 1,3,0,1' = 5+1

Corey Gathercole 2,3,3,3,2' = 13+1

Matt Jones 1', fell, -, -, = 1+1

Mark Jones 3,2,1,1',0 = 7+1

Tyron Proctor 3,1',2,3 = 9+1

Sam Dore 2',0,1,2' = 5+2

 

NSW = 33

Lee Herne 2,2,0,0,0 = 4

Louis Myers 0,1',2',3 = 6+2

Quentin Byrne 0,0,0,0 = 0

Michael Slade 3,0,3,3,1 = 10

Ty Platt 2,1,2,2 = 7

Luke Slade fell,-,-,- = 0

Elliot Myers 1,1',3,1,0 = 6+1

 

Masters / Evolutions

 

Vic = 56

Alan Landers 10

Daryl Spiden 6+2

Chris Barton 9+2

Wayne Morrison 10+1

Mick Evans 9+1

Mark Parkes 3+2

Adem Bond 8+2

Stephen Rose 1 (gave him a ride near the end when it was meaningless)

 

NSW = 28

Jack Stevens 12 (he was in a class of his own)

Ray McCarthy 1

Barry Morgan 4+1

Kel Hannon 5

Dave Clifton 4

Neil Brett 1

L White 1

 

Quentin Byrne replaced Jay Herne in the NSW line up. There was a rumour during the week leading up to the meeting that one of the NSW side would be missing due to injury and Jay must have been the one. The NSW team was weakened by his withdrawl and to be fair I don't think Quentin would consider himself to be on the same level. Good on him for stepping in at the last minute and having a go though, no one can knock him for that.

 

The Vics seemed a lot stronger on paper to me with some great depth in the team and losing Jay Herne made it a good deal harder for the visitors. In his first ride Luke Slade got some lift coming out of turn four and hit the fence and he was out for the night and that left them one rider short with others having to cover his rides. To cap it off Lee Herne had some bike problems during the meeting. Basically it was a night that nothing went in NSW's favour. At the same time the Vics seemed really up for it and Corey Gathercole in particular looked very fast. He was terrific, especially in the heat he rode against Ty Platt when Platt gated but Gathercole rounded him up pretty easily and swooped round him. Michael Slade was certainly the pick of the crop for the visitors and his battle with Corey Gathercole was the race of the night. The evolutions started off the program and after four heats were 18 - 6 down and I don't know if that start put the NSW senior guys psychologically behind the 8 ball before they even hit the track. I can imagine that NSW pride would have taken a bit of a hammering and I can see them being determined to do better next time.

 

For the Vics they all contributed good points except for Matt Jones who went into the fence at about the same spot as Luke Slade on his second ride and the bike went from under him and he slid into the fence. His lower back caught the brunt of the impact and he was out for the night too. I didn't see him personally but Matt was at Broadford the day after a bit battered and bruised and walking gingerly about. I later heard Luke suffered a fractured wrist and three cracked vertebrae and will be out of the saddle for about six weeks and that Matt has a fractured tailbone.

 

Despite the injuries the track was riding well and I believe the visitors were very complementary about the track and would like to return one day.