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Wood wins Casterton, Decker fastest time
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64th Annual Casterton '50' Handicap, Saturday 27 June.
Mt Gambier cyclists Richard Wood outsprinted a lead group of 20 cyclists to win line honours in Saturday's 64th annual Casterton 50 Handicap.
Wood, a well performed competitor in his junior days who returned to cycling after a 17 year absence, recorded his best performance in the sport, whilst Bendigo's Tim Decker recorded the fastest time for a remarkable ninth time.
Despite early morning fog, the race was conducted in conditions more akin to spring than winter, with a complete absence of wind.
The out markers relished the good conditions and the three front groups dominated the final ten placings, particularly the 22 minute men who filled the first five placings.
Limit and second limit came together at Digby and after a long hard chase, the 22 minute group joined them on the Sandford Hill, seven kilometres from the finish.
It was here that Hamilton rider Nick Cockerill made a decisive move which won him the Fred Icke memorial trophy to add to this earlier sprint win at Sandford on the outward journey.
After the climb, the field came together again and 20 riders contested the finish sprint for the final placings.
Richard Wood was the winner by half a length with the photo finish camera showing Tim Aplin (Portland) second and Darren Shelton (Hamilton) third. Similar margins separated Peter Lemke (Colac), Robert Boydle (Camperdown), Stephen Jones (Mt Gambier), Thomas Power (Colac), Stephen Mutch (Mt Gambier), Mark Hermon (Hamilton) and Roland Evans (Portland) who rounded out the top ten.
Just under three minutes later, the 20 leaders were followed by a group of 13 riders headed by Chris Jehu (Colac CC).
The scratchmen would have preferred rough weather and in the prevailing conditions, were never contenders for line honours. Decker, a former Melbourne to Warrnambool winner, also boasts two outright wins in addition to nine fastest times in the event. Brendan Hamilton was second fastest.
Seventy of the 78 entrants started, with 64 finishing the course, with the first woman to finish being Melissa McKinlay in 17th overall.
Special thanks to G & D Cycles of Werribee and Mt Gambier and MR Opperman Roofing Mt Gambier, for their support which enabled a substantial increase in the overall prize money.
