Rain stopped play on the scheduled date of 26 Sep, but the skies were clear on 1 October.
Here is how the start for the September 2024 Handicap Training Exercise looked:
0:00 Greg and Richard W - Limit Legends
2:15 Allan (self promoted), Rodd, Eddie, Dave P and Paul K - Block Busters
2:00 Rob H, Chris, Jason, Frank, Jeff and Dave J - Scratch Sprinters
Limit were down on numbers but not on effort. They took their massive gap and worked hard together to maintain it. Super impressive riding before being caught with just on a lap to go. Top work team.
Blocked tried to force the pace, however even with a number of honest workhorses they couldn't keep Scratch at bay for too long and were caught just after the 2nd hill. The relaxed pace after the catch meant they could all sit on easily until the end.
Scratch again worked like a well oiled machine, swapping off turns and keeping a steady but brisk pace. The first full lap was a 4:41. Block were caught with 4 laps to go and after that the average lap was a leisurely 4:53 inclusive of the final sprint.
With two laps to go Chris and Jeff made a very fast ascent of the hill with Dave J and Rob H trying desperately to join them out front. Both failed miserably and were forced to wait for the break to sit up after some decent efforts by Jason and Rob H. This brought the group together and back to snail's pace for the final lap.
Paul K rode off the front with about 1,000m to go and was caught with about 800m to go, still a good bit of fun.
The bunch sprint was a bit of a non event with Jason rolling over the line easily ahead of Rob H, Chris and Frank. Well done to those riders for having a bit of a go.
We all enjoyed a beverage as we discussed our achievements and opportunities for improvement.
Handicap Classic History
In 2017 a new activity was born. The monthly handicap classic. Riders are divided into groups according to perceived ability and set off from a standing start with a time gap in between each group with the goal of seeing who is first across the line. The top 3 in each activity so far are:
2017
Aug – PDC / Tom / Marcel
Sep – Jason / Chris / Dave J
Oct – Dave J / Jason / Rod
Nov – Dave J / Harry / Jason
Dec – Harry / Josh / Rene
2018
Jan – Mark / PDC / Colin
Feb – Tom / Chris / Josh
Mar - Jeff / Glenn / Colin
Apr - Dave J / Jeff / Rod
May - Jason / Rod / Andy
Jun - Harry / Chris / PDC
Jul - Harry / Jason / PDC
Aug - Chris / Dave J / Dave P
Sep - Andy / Jeff / Tom
Oct - Andy / Chris / Jason
Nov - Dave J / Jason / Chris
Dec - Rob S / Jason / Andy
2019
Jan – Andy / Harry / Dave P
Feb - Chris / Jason / Rob V
Mar - Eddie / Frank / Rob S
Apr - Harry / Chris / Jeff
May - Rob S / Tom / Colin
Jun - Rob S / Jason / Chris
Jul - Tom / Jason / Jeff
Aug- Rob S / Harry / Andy
Sep - Dave J / PDC / Chris
Oct - Ken E / Daniel / PDC
Nov - Richard W / Ken E / Rob S
Dec - Dave J / Chris / PDC
2020
Jan – Rob S / Jason / Darren
Feb - Rene / Andy / Eddie
May - Colin / Eddie / Frank
Jun - Andy / Jason / Rod
July - Jeff / Seb / Rod
Aug - Rob V / Jason / Seb
Sep - Chris / Dave J / Glenn
Oct - Andy / Eddie / Frank
Nov - Tony / Eddie / Frank
Dec - Seb / Paul K / Jason
2021
Jan – Ken E / Glenn / Rene
Feb - Dave J / Harry / Paul K
Mar - Jason / Dave J / Eddie
Apr - Seb / Adam / Rod
May - Tom / Rob H / Seb
Jun - Chris / Jeff / Seb
Oct - Rob S / Rob H / Paul K
Dec 2 - Tony / Ken E / Richard W
Dec 21 - Richard F / Seb / Eddie
2022
Jan – Paul K / Rob S / Chris
Aug - Seb / RobS / Jason
Oct 4 - Dave J / Jason / Tom
Oct 27 - Chris / Jason / Dave J
Nov - Rob S / Chris / Jason
Dec - Jason / Dave J / Eddie
2023
Feb 2 (delayed Australia Day) - Chris / Jason / Harry
Feb - Harry / Jason / Rod
Mar - Jason / Seb / Rob H
Apr - Jason / Jeff / Chris
May - Rob S / Paul K / Tony
Jun - Rob H / Jeff / Dave J
Jul - Tom / Jeff / Dave J
Aug - Rob S / Paul K / Rob H
Sep - Seb / Rob S / Paul K
Oct - Chris / Dave J / Eddie
Nov - Dave J / Chris / Paul K
Dec - Paul K / Tom / Rob S
2024
Feb 8 (delayed Australia Day) - Rob S / Seb / Rob H
Feb - Rob S / Tony / Glenn
Apr - Rob H / Tony / Jason
May - Frank / Glenn / Jeff
Jul - Tony / Rob S / Glenn
Aug - Jason / Seb / Frank
Sep - Jason / Rob H / Chris